Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick slammed Universal's 2016 Warcraft adaptation, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen" in a candid interview with Grit. Kotick, who led Activision Blizzard for 32 years before stepping down in December 2023, attributed the film's negative impact to the diversion of resources and talent from World of Warcraft's development. He cited the film as a significant factor in the departure of veteran designer Chris Metzen in 2016, describing Metzen as "the heart and soul of creativity" at the company. Kotick explained that the film, a pre-existing deal before Activision's acquisition, consumed considerable resources, distracting developers who were involved in casting and on-set activities, leading to delays in World of Warcraft expansions and patches. He emphasized the significant distraction this represented for a team focused on game development.
While the Warcraft film failed to resonate with North American audiences, grossing a mere $47 million domestically, its international success, particularly in China, resulted in a global total of $439 million for Legendary Pictures. Despite this, the film's massive budget prevented it from achieving profitability.
Kotick revealed that Metzen, deeply affected by the film's production, left to establish a board game company. Kotick later attempted to persuade Metzen to return as a consultant, but Metzen expressed dissatisfaction with plans for subsequent World of Warcraft expansions, advocating for a complete overhaul. Although Kotick stated he rarely spoke with Metzen after his return, he credited Metzen's significant involvement in the latest expansion, praising its quality. This final expansion indeed received critical acclaim, earning a 9/10 rating in a World of Warcraft: The War Within review, hailed as a revitalizing experience for the long-running MMO.
