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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
OJO BUKUNMI STEPHEN

Is This The End Of The Overwatch League? A Key Moment In The Future Of Esport

In 2017, franchise teams invested $20 million each for a slot in the Overwatch League, with 8 expansion slots later sold for $35 million each. (Credit: Mary Altaffer/AP/Shutterstock)

On November 8, 2023, Overactive Media made a groundbreaking announcement, terminating its team participation agreement in the Overwatch League and marking the beginning of the end for the esports league. Activision Blizzard paid approximately $6 million in termination fees, signalling a shift that prompts a critical examination of the competitive landscape within the esports industry.

In 2017, franchise teams invested $20 million each for a slot in the Overwatch League, with eight expansion slots later sold for $35 million each. However, with the league's impending closure, Activision Blizzard is compensating teams with a total of about $120 million. Rumours of a new league emerging, this time as an open circuit rather than a closed franchise system, add complexity to the unfolding narrative.

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