Image via Bloomberg

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is alleged to have quietly donated large sums of money to Republican campaigns through a clandestine company named Norgate LLC, reported CNBC. The CEO's contributions are said to accept gone towards a political action committee associated with controversial Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

CNBC also shed lite on 807080A LLC, a strangely named visitor that Kotick has reportedly used as another method of making unimposing political donations. Through this company, the CEO allegedly donated to a commission benefitting erstwhile Bridgewater CEO Dave McCormick'due south GOP principal campaign for Pennsylvania'due south Senate seat. McCormick emerged as a controversial figure during the 2022 Super Bowl, during which he broadcasted a campaign commercial that prominently featured the phrase "Let's Go Brandon" — a derogatory slogan commonly used to "discreetly" insult sitting Us President Joe Biden.

The 2 companies reportedly shared the same address on their FEC filings and were linked back to Kotick thank you to a personal mailbox on Norgate'south filing being registered in Kotick's proper name.

In a statement to CNBC, Kotick's spokesperson Mark Herr did non annotate on Norgate, but did propose that 807080A LLC was previously used to "manage some of Kotick's investments." Herr too defended Kotick, claiming "Mr. Kotick has contributed roughly the same amount to Democrats and Republicans," despite contribution records indicating Republicans accept, on average, received larger sums of money.

Kotick'southward support of the Republican party isn't exactly a secret. His personal donation history is publically bachelor to view on OpenSecrets, which displays some rather hefty amounts donated to Republican politicians. In 2022, Activision Blizzard likewise hired Frances Townsend, who previously served as Homeland Security Counselor to former Republican President George W. Bush.

Kotick is a controversial figure in the video game industry. His exorbitant salary and poor handling of Activision Blizzard'south sexual misconduct scandal have made him a target of frequent criticism by game manufacture fans and employees alike. In November 2022, a group of shareholders called for the CEO'due south resignation, only to no avail.

This news comes in the midst of what has been a tumultuous year for Activision Blizzard. QA workers from one of the visitor'due south subsidiaries, Raven Software, are currently attempting to unionize after roughly a third of the department was laid off. Additionally, it was announced that Microsoft would acquire the Call of Duty and Overwatch maker in a bombshell acquisition bargain set to close in 2023.