After months of uncertainty, Blizzard is officially ending the Overwatch League as it moves toward “evolving competitive Overwatch in a new direction.”
In July, Activision Blizzard said in an investor report that OWL teams would vote on updated terms with Blizzard at the end of the 2023 season, and that if they couldn’t reach a deal, they would each receive a $6 million buyout fee. of dollars. Then, in early October, Blizzard publicly committed to a “reinvigorated esports program,” signaling that no deal had been reached and spelling doom for the league.
In a statement to GG Recon, Blizzard officially drives the nail in OWL’s coffin.
“We are transitioning the Overwatch League and evolving competitive Overwatch in a new direction,” an Activision Blizzard spokesperson said. “We are grateful to everyone who made OWL possible and remain focused on building our vision of a revitalized esports program. We are excited to share details with all of you in the near future.”
Earlier on Wednesday, GGRecon reported that Toronto Defiant had announced it was leaving the Overwatch League, and shortly after, The Esports Advocate reported that a majority of teams had voted to leave OWL.
The Overwatch League was formed in 2016 and would face significant obstacles stemming from high startup costs, the Covid-19 pandemic, and allegations of sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard, leading to several big-name sponsors dropping their support for the Overwatch League. the league. .
Of course, Blizzard has made it clear that this is not the end of competitive Overwatch, but it is definitely the last we will see of the Overwatch League as we currently know it.
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