Bobby Kotick, the man who built Activision Blizzard into one of the gaming industry’s giants, is very well-paid but not nearly as well-thought-of these days. Reporter Samson Amore looks at what the Santa Monica-based company's deal with Microsoft could mean for the embattled CEO’s future.
Here’s what else we're reading in the news:
- The company behind Tom Cruise's upcoming movie is planning to build a film studio in space.
- SoCalGas announces it is moving its fleet to hydrogen fuel cell EVs.
- Beverly Hills-based ecommerce giant Boosted Commerce
acquires hair care company FoxyBae.
- Congress approves a bill that would ban platforms from favoring their own services.
- An employee dies at Tesla's factory in Fremont.
- Facebook parent Meta is setting the stage for users to create and sell NFTs.
- Netflix falls short of its subscriber target.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick’s Reign Approaches a Lucrative End
In 2020, Kotick was one of the highest-paid CEOs of any publicly traded company in the U.S.—but after myriad scandals at Activision, he drastically reduced his own salary. The “graceful exit” Kotick is said to desire after Microsoft acquires the video game developer would most likely include a hefty payday.
Amazon's First Physical Clothing Store Will Open in Glendale
Amazon Style, the ecommerce giant’s first brick-and-mortar apparel store, will debut at the Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale later this year. Shoppers will be able to scan an item in-store, browse the sizes and colors available and send it on to a fitting room—or directly to checkout.
ImmPACT Bio Raises $111 Million
The five-year-old firm is one of several creating promising cancer therapies known as CAR T-cell therapies, which use genetically-engineered T-cells to identify and eliminate cancer cells. It will use the funding to move its headquarters to the San Fernando Valley, and grow its team in manufacturing and research.A Dating App For Gamers Enters the Metaverse
Los Angeles-based Kippo is updating its app to allow users to create avatars, make connections and participate in shared experiences—like go-kart racing and soccer games—inside its virtual world.
Car Subscription Startup Autonomy Will Offer Tesla’s Model 3
Autonomy—the Santa Monica-based automobile subscription platform until recently known as NextCar—is getting into electric vehicles. The startup provides customers monthly vehicle subscriptions for an all-in price that includes insurance and maintenance costs.
🎧 Clare Paint Founder Nicole Gibbons: Quit Your Day Job
Entrepreneur Nicole Gibbons left her corporate job behind her and struck out on her own. Now, as the founder of the only Black-owned paint brand in the U.S., she has some suggestions for how you can do the same. Hear more of the Behind Her Empire podcast on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts.