After five years, Blizzard finally announced that it would shut down the Overwatch League, which was considered the next evolution of eSports.
Five years after the grandiose launch of the Overwatch League, A report from IGN revealed that Blizzard would officially shut down the Overwatch League. According to the report, the fate of the League was left in the hands of various members. However, this does not mean that Blizzard will end all Overwatch-related eSports, only that they will move on from the League. An official from Blizzard told IGN that the company would, “Remain focused on building our vision of a revitalized esports program.” They added, “We are excited to share details with you all in the near future.”
The Overwatch League Couldn’t Meet Blizzard’s Expectations
The Overwatch League was a joint venture between Blizzard Games and Major League Gaming (MLG) to revolutionize esports. It launched in 2018 and had teams based in cities like real-life sports. At its height, each franchise was worth $20 million while Overwatch itself was one of the most popular esports on the market. However, as with many things, the pandemic led to most of the league becoming remote. The League was hit with further problems during 2021’s wave of lawsuits against Blizzard. Ultimately, the Overwatch League simply could not keep up with Blizzard’s expectations.
As the Overwatch League was a major esports organization, this will inevitably lead to a major shake-up within the world of esports. However, as shown through massive events such as EVO, the esports scene is clearly growing in numerous places. Riot Games has also helped expand the esports world, such as with their own competitive shooter Valorant. The end of the Overwatch League comes mere weeks after Microsoft’s historic purchase of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, which included a change in leadership. The Overwatch League stands as just one of the casualties of this purchase.
Overwatch 2 is available for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Source: IGN
