Overwatch League Esports Team Owners to Vote on Competition’s future amid layoffs- The future of the Overwatch League seems to be in danger with Activision Blizzard laying off employees from its esports department. The company has also revealed that certain changes will be made in the agreement that it has with the team owners of the Overwatch League franchise. Here is everything you need to know.
Overwatch League Esports Team Owners to Vote on Competition’s future amid layoffs
As per the tweet by Jake Lucky on Twitter, the Overwatch League franchise’s team owners will vote on a new operating agreement at the end of the current season. Under the new terms, Activision Blizzard will pay them a $6 million termination fee if they decide against continuing in the League under a new agreement. This news combined with The Verge’s article stating Blizzard laying has laid off nearly 50 employees from its esports department, paints a very bleak future for the League.
Overwatch League will be offering esports teams a $6 million termination fee if they do not agree with an upcoming operating agreement to continue the League or not
This could be the end of the Overwatch League… pic.twitter.com/Dnf8viLAiQ
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) July 19, 2023
Hence the decision of the team owners will effectively decide the fate of the Overwatch League. At the start of 2023, many Overwatch League teams had collectively hired a law firm to represent them. They sought economic relief from Activision because of the massive decrease in revenue in the past few years despite spending millions on players and staff.
The teams were somewhat successful in this venture as Activision reportedly waived off all the remaining franchise fees the teams owed so as to help recoup some of the losses.
Last month, the Overwatch League confirmed the departure of the Chengdu Hunters team. This might also happen with the other participating Chinese teams because many Blizzard games, including Overwatch, have been taken offline in China. This happened because Blizzard and its longtime Chinese publishing partner, NetEase, failed to negotiate a new licensing agreement.
Stay tuned with us as we bring the latest news from the gaming community worldwide.
Read More- Genshin Impact Character Wanderer Fanart Contest: Schedule, Rewards, and More
