4 ms·

I wonder if he realises what "fun" he's going to have over the next years cleaning out the cesspit that is Blizzard

by blibble 5y ago

fartcannon 5y ago
Did they clean out LinkedIn?
- fintler 5y ago
  LinkedIn didn’t need to be cleaned out.
  - fartcannon 5y ago
    If their goal was to acquire and learn from the scummiest dark pattern designers, then I agree.
chaorace 5y ago
I've never overseen a merger before, let alone one of this scale, so pardon my blatant speculation... but will that really be such an issue? It seems to me that the mismanagement of Acti/Blizz is a product of a corrupt corporate apparatus. From the inside of Acti/Blizz, the problem is basically intractible, but I don't think that really applies the same way once you install higher rungs of authority. MS is no stranger to acquisitions, either, so it's not as though they will be asleep at the wheel during this transition.
- blibble 5y ago
  this buyout is a direct result of the sexual harassment suit (causing a 40% drop in share price since it started) the company is rotten from the very top, through the middle to the bottom they're going to have one hell of a time cleaning that up
kmeisthax 5y ago
Given that they plan to keep Bobby Kotick on, I don't think Microsoft understands the problem with ABK all that well.
- disgruntledphd2 5y ago
  Look, you almost never fire the CEO of an acquired company immediately, but I'd be very surprised if he's still there in 18 months.
- ohgodplsno 5y ago
  The press release says they're keeping Kotick for the duration of the transition, then everyone will report to Phil Spencer. Seems likely that Kotick will be gone soon(ish)
- seanhunter 5y ago
  It may well be that he has a job in name in the new structure but not actually a role and after some discreet period he will be put out to pasture. Kind of sucks if you wanted him to receive some sort of cathartic day of reckoning but maybe a pragmatic solution.
- jlouis 5y ago
  They are painting an exit route for him.

I wonder if he realises what "fun" he's going to have over the next years cleaning out the cesspit that is Blizzard

fartcannon 5y ago

Did they clean out LinkedIn?

fintler 5y ago
LinkedIn didn’t need to be cleaned out.
- fartcannon 5y ago
  If their goal was to acquire and learn from the scummiest dark pattern designers, then I agree.

chaorace 5y ago

I've never overseen a merger before, let alone one of this scale, so pardon my blatant speculation... but will that really be such an issue? It seems to me that the mismanagement of Acti/Blizz is a product of a corrupt corporate apparatus. From the inside of Acti/Blizz, the problem is basically intractible, but I don't think that really applies the same way once you install higher rungs of authority. MS is no stranger to acquisitions, either, so it's not as though they will be asleep at the wheel during this transition.

blibble 5y ago
this buyout is a direct result of the sexual harassment suit (causing a 40% drop in share price since it started) the company is rotten from the very top, through the middle to the bottom they're going to have one hell of a time cleaning that up

kmeisthax 5y ago

Given that they plan to keep Bobby Kotick on, I don't think Microsoft understands the problem with ABK all that well.

disgruntledphd2 5y ago
Look, you almost never fire the CEO of an acquired company immediately, but I'd be very surprised if he's still there in 18 months.
ohgodplsno 5y ago
The press release says they're keeping Kotick for the duration of the transition, then everyone will report to Phil Spencer. Seems likely that Kotick will be gone soon(ish)
seanhunter 5y ago
It may well be that he has a job in name in the new structure but not actually a role and after some discreet period he will be put out to pasture. Kind of sucks if you wanted him to receive some sort of cathartic day of reckoning but maybe a pragmatic solution.
jlouis 5y ago
They are painting an exit route for him.