OWL Franchises Provided $6 Million to Terminate League

The way forward for the Overwatch League is trying a bit much less sure this week. With the Activision Blizzard buyout seemingly going forward, and the OWL Grand Finals developing, issues appeared a bit brighter than a number of months in the past. Nonetheless, a current supply from Blizzard to the franchise holders of the staff have thrown that into doubt. OWL Franchises have been provided $6 million to go away the League.

In a quarterly earnings report, Activision Blizzard has supplied updates on the associated fee and earnings of tis numerous esports. With Hearthstone esports principally shut down, Blizzard’s primary occasion proper now could be positively the Overwatch League. Declining viewing figures have been happening for some time now although and franchise holders of the League have more and more been public issues dealing with them given the hefty charges to function a staff. The OWL is trying to resolve that downside with OWL franchises provided $6 million to go away the League totally.

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OWL Franchises Provided Hundreds of thousands to Go away the League

One staff has already stepped out of the League this season. It has been pressured to make use of Contenders groups in a single half of the competitors. Whereas a enjoyable strategy to open issues up, this forged plenty of doubts on the way forward for their franchise system. This required staff house owners to purchase a slot within the league for giant charges. That’s as an alternative of earn a spot like contenders groups might. This new amended format this 12 months felt like a bizarre midway cease between a contemporary system and Overwatch’s extra controversial franchise system. It appears to be like like Blizzard is trying to change the format totally although. Or simply quit on aggressive Overwatch as an entire.

Blizzard will likely be implementing a brand new working settlement. This might implement modifications to the settlement, one thing which has even led to them in search of collective authorized illustration towards Blizzard prior to now. The groups will vote on an upcoming working settlement. In the event that they don’t vote to proceed, a termination payment will likely be paid to every of them. OWL Franchises have been provided $6 million every within the termination payment.

Different sources have indicated one other 50 individuals have been laid off in Activision Blizzard esports this week simply forward of this information. This all makes the modifications a bit clearer, however the way forward for aggressive Overwatch could be very a lot doubtful.

Way forward for the Overwatch League

The commissioner of the Overwatch League has mentioned the corporate continues to be dedicated to persevering with the League. Given the quite a few issues dealing with it although, that termination payment would possibly look tempting to franchisees.

With the OWL franchises provided $6 million to go away aggressive Overwatch, we might be taking a look at an entire restart. This is likely to be the time for the Overwatch League to change to a extra open democratic format for esports. It’s a system for aggressive gaming that works nicely for free-to-play video games like Fortnite and Apex Legends. With rising layoffs in Blizzard esports and dwindling viewer numbers although, we is likely to be trying on the finish of Overwatch esports.