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It looks like the Overwatch League (OWL) is taking a different route after six years of competitive action.
Blizzard has confirmed that they’re saying goodbye to the current setup and planning something new.
The recent departure of teams like the Toronto Defiant added to the uncertainty, but now it’s official—the OWL, as we know it, is coming to an end.
The transition is not without its drama.
Blizzard sent out a revised operating agreement to teams, and those who didn’t want to continue got a $6 million parting gift.
This move follows a series of challenges the league faced, from the pandemic disrupting plans for city-based teams to difficulties in making money from online matches.
The financial struggles came to light with Bloomberg reporting a shortfall in projected revenue in 2020, a tough pill for a league that started with such grand ambitions and hefty franchise fees.
Now, it seems Activision Blizzard is in talks with the Saudi Arabian ESL FACEIT Group for a new chapter in Overwatch esports.
“We are transitioning from the Overwatch League and evolving competitive Overwatch in a new direction,” an Overwatch League spokesman confirmed.
“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 you all in the near future.”
The plan is to adopt a more open-circuit format, ditching the franchise system in favour of a more flexible tournament schedule.
It’s a big shift, but maybe it’s what Overwatch needs to thrive.
As fans brace themselves for more teams to reveal their exit plans, one thing’s for sure: the Overwatch League won’t be the same.
It’s the end of an era, and people are already reminiscing about the good times and lamenting the missed opportunities.
