The End of the Overwatch League

The Overwatch League (OWL) is coming to an end after six seasons. A Blizzard spokesperson announced that they are shifting away from OWL and revamping competitive Overwatch in a new direction. However, this doesn’t mean that Blizzard is completely stepping away from Overwatch esports. They expressed gratitude to everyone involved in OWL and are focused on creating a revitalized esports program. Details of this new direction will be shared in the near future.

Transition and Departures
In July, Activision Blizzard laid off around 50 esports staff and revealed that after the 2023 season, OWL team owners would vote on the league’s continuation. If teams choose to opt out, a termination fee of $6 million would be paid to each team. The owner of OWL team Toronto Defiant confirmed their departure from the league, with OverActive Media receiving a $6 million termination payment and expressing plans to remain active in Overwatch esports.

Future Plans
As Overwatch esports enters a new phase, OverActive Media’s cofounder and CEO, Adam Adamou, stated their eagerness to share more about their vision for Toronto Defiant and their plans for returning to Overwatch esports. The departure of Toronto Defiant marks the second team to leave OWL, following the Chengdu Hunters who did not participate in the 2023 season after Blizzard games were shut down in China.

Uncertain Future
With several teams releasing players and suspending operations amid OWL’s uncertain future, it’s clear that the league faced challenges. Issues such as viewership struggles, sponsors dropping out, and the scandal at Activision Blizzard may have contributed to OWL’s downfall. Despite polished broadcasts and entertaining matches, the original city-based franchise format of OWL is coming to an end.

What’s Next?
The professional Overwatch scene’s future is unclear, but reports suggest a return to a more open format for 2024. Activision Blizzard is reportedly in talks with ESL FACEIT Group to run the next pro Overwatch season. In the meantime, a Blizzard-backed Overwatch 2 tournament featuring regional prize pools and veteran OWL players is set to begin this weekend.