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 helmed Activision Blizzard for 32 years before his departure in December 2023, attributed the film's negative impact to several key issues within Blizzard.
He cited the movie as a significant distraction for the World of Warcraft development team, contributing to delays in expansions and patches. Kotick highlighted the impact on key personnel, specifically mentioning Chris Metzen, whom he considered the "heart and soul of creativity" at Blizzard. Metzen's burnout, according to Kotick, was partly fueled by the film's production, leading to his departure in 2016. The extensive resources diverted to the film, including developer involvement in casting and on-set activities, further hampered game development.
Despite the film's international success, grossing $439 million globally, its failure to recoup its massive budget led Legendary Pictures to consider it a box office disappointment. While the film's North American performance was weak, reaching only $47 million domestically, its popularity in China significantly boosted its overall revenue. The possibility of a Warcraft sequel remains unlikely, with director Duncan Jones previously revealing cancelled plans for a trilogy that would have focused on Durotan's quest to find a new home for his people.
Kotick revealed that Metzen took the film's production personally, prompting his departure to establish a board game company. Kotick subsequently attempted to persuade Metzen to return as a consultant, but Metzen expressed dissatisfaction with the planned expansions, demanding a complete overhaul. Their subsequent interactions were minimal, with Kotick emphasizing his desire to allow Metzen creative freedom. The final expansion, however, received considerable praise, achieving a 9/10 rating in a review by [insert publication name here], which lauded it as a revitalizing experience for the long-running MMO.
