A claim that call of Duty sales have plummeted 60% year-over-year is fueling debate over Microsoft’s 2022 acquisition of Activision Blizzard, according to a recently released statement from former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick.
Kotick Defends Microsoft Deal, Cites Declining Sales
The former CEO alleges the Microsoft deal was a stroke of foresight, perhaps saving shareholders from a significant financial hit.
- Kotick asserts Activision Blizzard shareholders should be thankful for the swift sale to Microsoft.
- He attributes a potential downturn to declining console sales and increased competition from titles like Battlefield.
- The claims are part of a response to a lawsuit alleging kotick rushed the sale to deflect from other issues facing the company.
- Activision Blizzard has not yet responded to the allegations.
Responding to a lawsuit filed in December 2025,Kotick vehemently denies allegations that he rushed the sale. He argues the deal was strategically timed, given the shifting landscape of the gaming industry. according to reports, Kotick stated, “Today, given that console sales are at an all-time low and Call of Duty sales are off over 60% from the prior year, plaintiff should be expressing extreme gratitude for the foresight Activision leadership demonstrated in consummating this transaction.”
Kotick further suggested that without the Microsoft acquisition, Activision Blizzard’s stock price would have suffered, citing post-closing financial performance that has fallen short of initial projections. He also pointed to competition from other games, specifically Battlefield, as a factor impacting Call of Duty‘s market dominance, thereby undermining arguments about a monopoly in the frist-person shooter category.
the Microsoft Deal Under Scrutiny
The lawsuit alleges Kotick prioritized a rapid sale to distance himself from ongoing allegations against the game studio. It claims the deal was made without sufficient consideration of all factors and seeks to invalidate the acquisition.
The implication of Kotick’s statement is that Microsoft’s backing is crucial to mitigating the impact of declining sales. He believes his leadership team anticipated this downturn and acted accordingly to protect shareholder value.
However, these claims remain unverified. Given Kotick’s departure from Activision Blizzard in 2023, the source of this sales data is unclear. Reports note the importance of viewing Kotick’s comments with skepticism, despite their widespread circulation online.
As of writing, Activision Blizzard has not issued a formal response to these allegations. This article will be updated should a statement become available.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 feels set to be an entirely different beast to previous releases, with early trailers revealing a game of surreal sights and psychological warfare. According to Miles Leslie, Associate Creative Director at Treyarch, the team wanted to tell a more personal, relatable story this time around, using a chemical weapon as a catalyst for a deeper exploration of Black Ops‘ heroes.
‘With this game, what we really wanted to tap into is something that’s really human,’ Leslie tells ScreenHub. ‘we wanted to really ground the game in something everyone has, which is fears and regrets, and past decisions – and I think humans just constantly dwell on that.’
