1. What is a Business Analyst at Activision?

At Activision, a Business Analyst—often aligned with Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Live Operations, or Commercial Strategy—plays a pivotal role in the heartbeat of our franchises. You are not just crunching numbers; you are driving the business logic behind some of the world's most successful entertainment products, including Call of Duty and Warzone. This role sits at the intersection of finance, product management, and game strategy, ensuring that our creative ambitions are supported by robust commercial frameworks.

You will be responsible for projecting and managing the performance of titles, analyzing player behavior, and optimizing monetization systems such as the Battle Pass and in-game Item Shops. Whether you are focused on Live Ops revenue, retail SKU planning, or compensation analytics, your insights will directly influence decision-making at the studio and executive levels. You will help answer critical questions: How is the current season performing? What trends are emerging in player engagement? How do we optimize our go-to-market strategy for the next major release?

This position offers a unique opportunity to work within a dynamic, high-scale environment where data directly impacts the player experience. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners in finance, marketing, and game development to build forecasts, assess risks, and drive profitability. If you are passionate about the business of gaming and have the analytical rigor to navigate complex data sets, this role is your gateway to shaping the future of interactive entertainment.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for an analyst role at Activision requires a shift in mindset. You need to demonstrate not only technical proficiency but also a deep understanding of the gaming industry's business models. You must show that you can translate complex financial data into actionable strategic narratives.

Your interviewers will evaluate you based on the following key criteria:

Financial & Commercial Acumen – You must demonstrate a strong grasp of financial concepts, P&L management, and revenue forecasting. Interviewers will test your ability to build robust models and understand the drivers of revenue in a digital, live-service environment (e.g., microtransactions, full-game sales).

Analytical Problem Solving – We look for candidates who can approach ambiguous problems with structure. You will be evaluated on how you dissect a business challenge—such as declining player retention or pricing a new bundle—and use data to recommend a solution.

Industry & Product Knowledge – A genuine interest in video games and the entertainment sector is critical. You will be assessed on your familiarity with Activision’s portfolio and your understanding of industry trends, such as the shift to "Games as a Service" (GaaS) and free-to-play mechanics.

Collaboration & Communication – You will often act as a bridge between finance and creative teams. Evaluation here focuses on your ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders and your history of building strong cross-functional relationships.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process for Business and Financial Analyst roles at Activision is rigorous and designed to test both your hard skills and your strategic thinking. It typically begins with a recruiter screen to assess your background and interest in the role. If successful, you will move to a hiring manager interview, which focuses on your relevant experience, technical capabilities (particularly in Excel and modeling), and your motivation for joining the team.

Following the initial rounds, candidates are often asked to complete a case study or take-home assessment. This is a critical stage where you will be given a dataset or a business scenario related to game performance or revenue forecasting. You will be expected to analyze the data, build a model, and present your findings. This step tests your practical skills and your ability to deliver executive-level insights.

The final stage is a series of onsite (or virtual onsite) interviews with a panel of cross-functional partners. You will meet with members of the Finance, Strategy, and potentially Product or Production teams. These interviews will cover behavioral questions, deep dives into your case study, and scenario-based inquiries to gauge your cultural fit and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

This timeline illustrates the typical progression from application to offer. Note the emphasis on the Case Study phase; this is often the "make or break" moment for analyst candidates. Use this visual to plan your preparation, ensuring you have refreshed your financial modeling skills before the technical rounds begin.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed, you must demonstrate competence in specific technical and strategic areas. Based on the role's focus on Call of Duty Live Ops and commercial strategy, expect the following themes to dominate your technical discussions.

Financial Modeling & Forecasting

This is the core technical skill required. You must be comfortable building dynamic models in Excel to project revenue and engagement.

Be ready to go over:

• Revenue Projection: Methodologies for forecasting in-game bookings, full-game unit sales, and digital revenue.
• Variance Analysis: Explaining the "why" behind differences in forecasted vs. actual performance (e.g., seasonality, content quality, competitor launches).
• P&L Management: Understanding the structure of a P&L statement and how specific game metrics impact the bottom line.
• Advanced concepts: Cohort analysis, LTV (Lifetime Value) modeling, and churn prediction.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through how you would build a revenue forecast for a new Battle Pass season."
• "We noticed a 10% drop in revenue week-over-week. How would you investigate the root cause?"
• "How do you model the impact of a holiday sale on total quarterly revenue?"

Game Economy & KPIs

You need to understand the metrics that drive a gaming business. It is not enough to know the definitions; you must know how they interact.

Be ready to go over:

• Engagement Metrics: DAU (Daily Active Users), MAU (Monthly Active Users), and retention rates.
• Monetization Metrics: ARPU (Average Revenue Per User), ARPPU (Average Revenue Per Paying User), conversion rate, and attach rates.
• Live Ops Strategy: How in-game events, store refreshes, and content drops influence these KPIs.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "If DAU is flat but revenue is up, what could be driving this trend?"
• "Which metric is more important for a free-to-play title: Retention or Conversion? Why?"
• "How would you evaluate the success of a new weapon skin bundle in the Item Shop?"

Strategic Decision Making

Interviewers will test your ability to make recommendations based on imperfect data. This tests your business judgment.

Be ready to go over:

• Pricing Strategy: Determining price points for SKUs or digital items.
• Market Analysis: Understanding the competitive landscape (e.g., Fortnite, Apex Legends) and how it impacts Activision’s strategy.
• Opportunity Assessment: Evaluating whether to invest resources in a new initiative or platform.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Should we lower the price of the base game to drive player acquisition, or keep it high to maximize margin?"
• "We have a limited budget for a marketing campaign. Do you target lapsed players or new users? Justify your answer."

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst at Activision, your day-to-day work is dynamic and deeply integrated into the studio's rhythm. A significant portion of your time will be spent projecting and managing performance. This involves tracking daily player counts and monetization trends for titles like Call of Duty. You will monitor the performance of live service features—such as the Battle Pass and Item Shop—and report these findings to leadership to inform immediate tactical adjustments.

Collaboration is central to this role. You will partner with finance leaders and product managers to drive "Live Seasons." This means you aren't just reporting on the past; you are contributing to go-to-market plans for future content. You will help define what a successful season looks like financially and operationally. This requires constant communication with the studio to understand content pipelines and with commercial teams to align on marketing beats.

Additionally, you will be responsible for ad-hoc analysis and strategic projects. Leadership will frequently come to you with complex questions that require deep dives into data. You might analyze the ROI of a specific partnership, assess the risks of a schedule shift, or support the annual and long-range forecasting processes. Your work directly feeds into the broader business unit performance updates, making your accuracy and insight vital to the organization's success.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

Successful candidates for this role typically combine strong financial technicalities with a passion for the industry.

Must-have skills:

• Advanced Excel & PowerPoint: You must be a power user. This includes complex formulas, pivot tables, lookup functions, and the ability to build clean, audit-ready financial models. PowerPoint skills are essential for presenting your findings to executives.
• Financial & Analytical Experience: Typically 2–4 years of experience in Investment Banking, Equity Research, FP&A, or Revenue Management. A background in consumer internet or entertainment is highly valued.
• Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related quantitative field.

Nice-to-have skills:

• Industry Passion: A demonstrated interest in video games, esports, or the broader entertainment landscape. Understanding the "player mindset" is a significant differentiator.
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or PowerBI can be a plus, though Excel remains the primary tool for financial modeling.
• SQL Knowledge: While not always mandatory for all finance roles, the ability to query data directly gives you a speed advantage in analysis.

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what you might face. They cover technical financial knowledge, strategic thinking, and behavioral competencies. Do not memorize answers; instead, use these to practice your structured thinking and storytelling.

Financial & Technical Proficiency

• "How do you approach forecasting revenue for a product with no historical data?"
• "Walk me through the three financial statements and how they link together."
• "Describe a complex financial model you built. What were the key variables and assumptions?"
• "How would you model the cannibalization effect of releasing a new title alongside an existing live service game?"
• "Explain how you check your work for errors before presenting to a stakeholder."

Business Strategy & Gaming Knowledge

• "What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Call of Duty franchise right now?"
• "If you were the CFO of a gaming studio, how would you allocate budget between new IP development and live operations for existing games?"
• "Analyze a recent monetization strategy by a competitor. What did they do right or wrong?"
• "How does the free-to-play business model differ from the premium console model in terms of revenue recognition and cash flow?"

Behavioral & Leadership

• "Tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news (e.g., a forecast miss) to a senior leader. How did you handle it?"
• "Describe a situation where you had to influence a cross-functional partner who disagreed with your data."
• "How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple urgent deadlines during a busy season?"
• "Tell me about a time you identified a trend in data that others missed. What was the impact?"

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to be a "gamer" to get this job? While you don't need to be a competitive player, a strong interest in the industry is highly beneficial. You need to understand the product you are analyzing. If you don't play, you should at least research the mechanics of Call of Duty, the concept of a Battle Pass, and current industry trends.

Q: What is the work-life balance like? The gaming industry is cyclical. Expect busier periods during "Live Season" launches, quarterly earnings preparation, and the annual planning cycle. However, Activision values sustainable working practices. The role is typically hybrid, with specific days required in the office (e.g., Santa Monica or Irvine).

Q: Will there be a coding test? For "Financial Analyst" or "Business Analyst" roles within the Finance org, coding (Python/R) is rarely the focus. The technical bar is set at advanced Excel modeling. However, for roles more aligned with Data Science or Compensation Analytics, basic SQL might be tested.

Q: How long does the process take? The process usually takes 3 to 5 weeks from the initial screen to the final offer. The timeline can vary depending on the scheduling of the case study presentation and the availability of senior leadership for final rounds.

Q: Is this role remote? Most positions are hybrid, requiring 3 days a week in the office (typically Santa Monica for Finance/CoD roles, or Irvine for Blizzard/Compensation roles). Fully remote opportunities are rare and usually reserved for specific specialized cases.

9. Other General Tips

Know the Product Portfolio: Before your interview, familiarize yourself with Activision’s key titles, specifically Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Warzone, and Call of Duty: Mobile. Understand the difference between premium releases and free-to-play ecosystems.

Master the "Why": When presenting data or solving a case, always move beyond the "what" (the number) to the "so what" (the insight) and the "now what" (the recommendation). Leadership values actionable intelligence over raw data dumps.

Be Data-Driven but Story-Led: Your interviewers are looking for people who can tell a story with numbers. When discussing your past experience, frame your answers around the business impact your analysis had (e.g., "My model led to a 5% increase in efficiency," or "My recommendation saved the company $X").

Prepare for the "Airport Test": Culture fit is huge. Teams work long hours together during launch windows. Be personable, enthusiastic, and show that you are someone they would enjoy working with during a late-night crunch.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Becoming a Business Analyst at Activision is an opportunity to work at the pinnacle of the gaming industry. You will be entrusted with the data and strategies that power franchises enjoyed by millions of players worldwide. The role demands a rare combination of high-level financial technicality, strategic foresight, and a collaborative spirit.

To succeed, focus your preparation on financial modeling, gaming KPIs, and structured problem-solving. Review the Call of Duty business model, brush up on your Excel shortcuts, and come ready to discuss how you can drive value for the business. Approach the process with confidence—your ability to translate numbers into strategy is exactly what the team needs.

The salary data above provides a baseline for expectations. Note that compensation at Activision typically includes a base salary, an annual performance bonus, and potentially equity (RSUs), depending on the level. Be prepared to discuss your expectations transparently with the recruiter early in the process.

For more community insights and specific interview questions, explore the resources available on Dataford. Good luck—you have the skills to make an impact.