Acitivsion Blizzard is threatening to leave the UK over a video game tax. The world's biggest publisher of video games isn't pleased about Britain's decision to cut tax relief for the gaming industry calling it a "terrible mistake." Activision has refused to rule out the possibility of moving their UK offices elsewhere.
The publisher of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft currently employ about 600 people in their UK office in Berkshire. Activision's chief execute Bobby Kotick said, "I think it was a terrible mistake, there are so many other places that are encouraging the video games industry."
TIGA, a group representing the UK's video game industry, has warned that Britain will now face an exodus of game studios to countries with game industry friendly policies. Countries such as Singapore, China and the United States offer tax incentives for the video game developers and publishers.
Do you think Activision should leave the UK? Or do you think the UK is right to deny the tax relief?
Source: Telegraph
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Angelicsin87
LOL, how ironic. Don't get me wrong, I think what the UK is doing bad but still.
Atavax
yeah, why should a company try to make money? if Activision was a morally good company, they should hire every unemployed worker in the UK, AMIRIGHT? they shouldn't care about how much money they'd lose from doing it...
AntiquesRoadwarrior
If it made money, Activision would move their place-holding head office to North Korea. First, they don't give a damn about their fans or international politics. Second, they don't give a damn about John-Galt's favorite economic system or anyone else's. Their objective is to exploit capitalism by country-hopping, moving around to avoid paying taxes, and riding the crests of the international market without experiencing its valleys. Corporations like this are the enemy of the Free-Market, not its protectors. And if the government has to step in to keep them from manipulating the system, fine by me. There is no other force to stop them on the planet, contrary to Atlas Shrugged's theme, which is very stupid point to make. Nearly all personal experience, on top of her other book, the Fountainhead, goes against her premise. I personally agree with Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood: this worship of money was probably cooked up by some conspiratorial group, like the Templars, to distract people while their liberties were taken away. Oh well.
xplayfan1500
I think Activision should do the smart thing, and just pay the tax. Keep the people employed. I'm so sick of companies kicking workers to the curb when the government decides to take away thier corporate welfare, or raise thier taxes. Activision owns Blizzard, Bungie, and the Call of Duty franchise, come on. Taxes?
austin43
Smart business decision. Sure it sucks for the consumer, but hey you can always buy using eBay if you want the game that bad. If you're like 95% of the COD population who bitches about map pack prices yet continue to play it over anything else, I have no sympathy for you.
Atavax
this is not activision's decision or Kotick's decision. Kotick can be jailed if he doesn't do what he thinks is best for his company. If it is best for Activision to leave the UK, then that is what Kotick has to do. It is not Activision/Kotick leaving/betraying the UK; its the UK leaving/betraying Activision.
LordBlackass
Proof once again that big business doesn't care about people or the industry. They only care about maximising profits for their (already rich) shareholders.
filchingfeline
I think activision should be shot like old yeller. /sadface
Symicide
uhhh off topic but the UK needs to stop banning games.
vole182
See you tax the rich, and they just move to somewhere they don't have the tax.
Obamanation fail.
Samthorian
The UK sure has the right to deny tax relief, but it isn't going to help their economic situation if you start driving out companies. It's sad, the UK won't know how much of an importance Activision is until they are gone.
Bobby Kotick do what you do best. Business.
cardinalsfan1122
Definately leave I hate kotick but he is a real intelligent business man.(not much else)They may have alot of money but if you value every dollar of profit, a business can last forever.
TheBRADLeyB
I will say that it's a stupid decision to tax this by the UK...
On the other hand how can Bobby K complain about being taxed when he puts out Map Packs on Call of Duty that cost 25Percent of the Original Game? I mean you drop out two map packs (with no additional game modes even) and you have spent 90 Bucks in less then a year on the same game.
I will say that I feel Black Ops has more support in the way of getting cheats and mods taken out.
Anyway let's see Bobby K move the offices first before I worry about the taxes not working.
Cansr
BAHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHahAHAHAHAH Sucks for UK.. Their suicidal rate is about to increase by 100 xp
Undertow851
The UK's great and all, but go ahead and leave. They have a way of trying to get you to come back by compromise.
Jimi0088
they have more money then god and they are b*tch*n about taxes. F Activision and blizzard those j@w bastards
LeonEscobar
I can understand why, but please, is it really that much that they can't handle it. Man The uk is having some serious problems in trying to fix their economical problems and kotick should understand. Watch its going to end up like that one movie when everyone became sterile. I bet activision will want to have association wi
CLUNGEHUNTERPJ
UK devs are treated like crap. The government takes the industry seriously over here than in the states.
I understand we're trying to get out of a recession, but this kind of thing just puts these talented guys out of a job. The big ones like rare, rockstar north and rocksteady should be fine, but a lot of smaller devs will feel this hard. The decision's clearly come from ticking a box on a spreadsheet rather than a proper insight into the benefits of these companies.
Someone needs to remind david cameron that gaming is now THE most profitable sector in media.
larrycanablev
It is all econical why activison wood leave. But don't any one remeaber why activison came for. It was a more user frandly atrie. Where atrie was more of a bussies. But now activison is so big , atrie is just about gone. But that is intresting how activison is acting now.
An to be a lib we have to unfear text branks of big compenys.
Nerdi_Master
As much as I can't stand Kotick's work ethics, I have to agree with this decision. Hopefully he'll move the offices back to the U.S., our economy really needs the boost.
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