Activision Blizzard Boss Blasts Warcraft Film

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick slammed the 2016 Warcraft film adaptation as "one of the worst movies I've ever seen" in a recent interview with Grit. Kotick, who led the company for 32 years before his departure in December 2023, attributed the film's negative impact to resource drain and distraction from core game development. He cited the film as a contributing factor to the departure of veteran designer Chris Metzen in 2016.

Kotick described Metzen as the "heart and soul of creativity" at Blizzard, stating Metzen's burnout stemmed partly from the movie's production. He explained that the pre-existing deal for the film, made before Activision's acquisition, diverted significant resources and pulled developers away from their core responsibilities. The resulting delays in World of Warcraft expansions and patches, coupled with his personal assessment of the film's quality, led to his strong criticism.

While the Warcraft film's international success, particularly in China, generated $439 million for Legendary Pictures, it ultimately fell short of expectations due to its substantial budget. The film's underperformance in North America, grossing only $47 million domestically, further solidified its perceived failure.

Kotick revealed that Metzen took the film's shortcomings personally. After Metzen left to establish a board game company, Kotick attempted to persuade him back, offering a consultancy role. However, Metzen expressed dissatisfaction with the planned expansions, advocating for a complete overhaul. Kotick admitted minimal subsequent contact with Metzen, prioritizing the designer's creative autonomy. He expressed confidence in the quality of the latest expansion, praising its success and positive reception, referencing a 9/10 review from a source (linked in the original article).