Bobby Kotick is in a legal battle with Embracer Group — mutual accusations are flying in the case concerning the sale of Activision Blizzard.

Bobby Kotick is in a legal battle with Embracer Group — mutual accusations are flying in the case concerning the sale of Activision Blizzard

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has responded sharply to a class action lawsuit filed by Swedish pension fund AP7, which accuses him of rushing to sell the company to Microsoft for $69 billion to avoid the fallout from harassment scandals.

Kottick not only rejected all accusations, but also launched a counterattack. In his official response to the court, he suggested that the lawsuit was instigated by a competitor — Swedish holding company Embracer Group (owner of Tomb Raider, Dead Island, and the rights to The Lord of the Rings). According to Kotick, Embracer could use the lawsuit to weaken Activision in the California market, make it difficult to hire talent, and block potential mergers and acquisitions.

Embracer Group has already responded, stating, "It may be difficult for Mr. Kotick to accept, but we don't need help from a Swedish pension fund to compete with Activision."

The case takes an unexpected turn, demonstrating how fierce the battle for influence in the industry can be, even after the completion of a multi-billion dollar deal.