Activision Blizzard Shifts Focus Away from Overwatch League

Activision Blizzard has confirmed that it is discontinuing the Overwatch League. In a statement, the company revealed that it is "transitioning" away from the league and intends to take competitive Overwatch in a fresh direction. The company expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the OWL and stated that it remains committed to developing its esports program. The news follows the departure of several teams from the league, including Toronto Defiant and Chengdu Hunters. Reports suggest that Activision Blizzard is in discussions with the Saudi Arabian state-owned ESL FACEIT Group to manage the 2024 Overwatch season. Earlier this year, the publisher expressed concerns about the long-term viability of its Overwatch and Call of Duty Leagues in an SEC filing, citing significant challenges and potential costs. The Overwatch League accounted for less than 1% of the company's consolidated revenue in the first half of 2023.