Former Nintendo boss applauds Xbox’s ‘fantastic’ acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has hit it off quite well with the Xbox team, and during a recent appearance at SXSW 2022 to discuss all things gaming and promote his new book ‘Disrupting the Game’, You were asked to share your thoughts on the acquisitions that are currently underway.

As for Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard, Reggie thinks it’s a “fantastic purchase” by Phil Spencer and company. This is what he had to say:

“Microsoft’s purchase of Activision, I think it was a huge heartbreak purchase, the stock price had lost a third with all the cultural issues the company has had, it was a fantastic purchase of King, mobile games, Call of Duty… simply a fantastic purchase.”

Saying this, Reggie had a few words for Activision Blizzard, noting how “the culture is set at the top” and how leadership shapes this, with the CEO “setting the tone”. As for whether or not Bobby Kotick should stay, Reggie said Phil and the CEO of Microsoft need to decide:

“Look, that’s going to be a decision, my good friends Phil Spencer and Satya [Nadella] to do, that’s not my calling… but as an executive, I know that leaders set the culture and that [Activision Blizzard] it was a bad culture, it’s not just Activision… unfortunately the gaming industry has had these kinds of situations…”

What are your own thoughts on Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard and these companies potentially adopting the culture of other Xbox Game Studios? Tell us below.

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