Kotick: Lucas, not EA, will benefit from Star Wars MMO

Outspoken Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has cast doubt of the profitability of rival publisher EA's MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic.

"Lucas is going to be the principal beneficiary of the success of Star Wars," Kotick told the Reuters Media Summit.

"We've been in business with Lucas for a long time and the economics will always accrue to the benefit of Lucas, so I don't really understand how the economics work for Electronic Arts."

Bioware are developing the multiplayer title, with release scheduled for December 20.

"If you look at the history of the people investing in an MMO and achieving success, it's a small number," Kotick added.

He also addressed recent issues with the supply of Skylanders, the game that comes with toys, with American stores selling out last weekend.

 Retailers across the board are concerned that they will be out of inventory well before Christmas," he explained.

"There's nothing we can do because they are made offshore and we can't get product made that quickly."

Activision has also found recent, if unsurprising, success with Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, grossing $775 million in just five days.