Activision's Mobile Gaming Unit King to See Leadership Changes Ahead of Microsoft Deal

In January, Microsoft said it was buying the Call of Duty maker for $68.7 billion (roughly Rs. 5,16,885 crore).

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 24 February 2022 12:40 IST
Highlights
  • In January, Microsoft said it was buying Activision Blizzard
  • Activision has also been the subject of investigative stories
  • Activision said King's in-game net booking grew 14 percent year-over-year

Activision has also been the subject of investigative stories detailing allegations of sexual harassment

Video game maker Activision Blizzard's mobile gaming unit, King, said on Wednesday two of its senior executives, including a co-founder, would leave the company before its deal with Microsoft Corp.

In January, Microsoft said it was buying the Call of Duty maker for $68.7 billion (roughly Rs. 5,16,885 crore) in the biggest gaming industry deal in history as global technology giants stake their claims to a virtual future.

Advertisement

Sebastian Knutsson, one of the founders of King, is stepping down from his role as chief creative officer, the Candy Crush maker said.

President Humam Sakhnini, who worked for six years at King and 12 years at Activision Blizzard, is also stepping down from his role, with Tjodolf Sommestad replacing him. According to the company, Sakhnini is stepping down to return to the United States.

Advertisement

This executive shakeup comes at a time when Activision is already facing a lawsuit from California regulators alleging the company "fostered a sexist culture".

Activision has also been the subject of investigative stories detailing allegations of sexual harassment internally, and its employees have staged walkouts to protest the company's response to the issues.

Advertisement

During its fourth-quarter earnings announcement, Activision said King's in-game net bookings grew 14 percent year-over-year, driven by 20 percent growth in its largest franchise, Candy Crush.

© Thomson Reuters 2022


Can Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro+ win their respective segments? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Activision Blizzard, Call of Duty
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Best Home Theatre Projectors Under Rs. 20,000 in India
  2. Best Smartwatches Under Rs. 5,000 in India With SpO2, Heart Rate Monitoring
  3. Asics Gel-Kayano 33 Review
  1. Tecno Camon 50 Ultra 5G India Launch Date Announced; Colourways and Amazon Availability Confirmed
  2. Apple Reportedly Reviews iPhone 17 Demand as Costs Rise Amid Ongoing Memory Shortage
  3. Interpol Traces $122 Million Crypto Wallet Connected to Romance Scam Network
  4. Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission Tightens Anti-Phishing Standards for Crypto Platforms
  5. Itel Zeno 100 Pro India Launch Date Announced as Company Teases Zeno 100 Lite Arrival, Key Features
  6. Sony RX10 V Compact Camera Launched With 20.1-Megapixel Sensor, 4K 120fps Video Recording and 25x Optical Zoom
  7. Motorola Edge 70 Max India Launch Date Announced; Design, Key Features Revealed
  8. Asus Vivobook 14, Vivobook 15 Refreshed With Intel Core Series 3 Processors: Price, Availability
  9. Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 Ports Released on PS4 and PS5
  10. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra Prices Surface Ahead of Unpacked Launch Event
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.