In a revealing interview on Grit, former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick didn't mince words about the 2016 film adaptation of Warcraft, labeling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." Kotick, who stepped down from his role in December 2023 after 32 years at the helm, highlighted the film's detrimental impact on the development of World of Warcraft. He pointed out that the movie was a significant distraction for the Blizzard team, contributing to delays in game expansions and patches.
Kotick specifically mentioned the departure of veteran designer Chris Metzen in 2016, attributing it partly to the stress and distraction caused by the film project. "Chris Metzen was — and is, to me — the heart and soul of creativity of the company," Kotick remarked. He noted that the decision to make the movie was made before Activision's acquisition of Blizzard, and despite his reservations, it proceeded to consume valuable resources and attention from the development team.
The Warcraft film, while a box office disappointment in North America with a domestic gross of only $47 million, found significant success internationally, particularly in China. It briefly held the title of the most successful video game adaptation globally, pulling in $439 million overall. However, it did not meet the financial expectations set by its hefty budget, leading Legendary Pictures to consider it a failure.
Kotick revealed that Metzen took the movie's reception very personally, which played a role in his decision to leave Blizzard and start a board game company. Despite this, Kotick later "begged" Metzen to return on a consultancy basis, acknowledging his pivotal role in shaping the game's creative direction. Upon his return, Metzen was critical of the plans for the next two expansions, insisting they needed a complete overhaul.
Reflecting on his interactions with Metzen after his return, Kotick admitted they were limited, saying, "Hardly ever. What am I going to tell Chris Metzen about game design, you know? I just wanted him to do his thing." Kotick praised Metzen's influence on the latest expansion, World of Warcraft: The War Within, which received a stellar 9/10 in reviews and was lauded for revitalizing the two-decade-old MMO.
Director Duncan Jones, who helmed the Warcraft movie, had envisioned a trilogy that would have followed "the fulfilling of Durotan’s promise to give his people a new home." However, these plans were ultimately shelved, leaving fans without a sequel.
