Activision Blizzard, perusahaan game ternama, baru-baru ini membuat pengumuman penting terkait nasib liga esports populernya, Overwatch League. Dalam hasil keuangan kuartal kedua 2023, perusahaan mengungkapkan bahwa tim Overwatch League akan memiliki kekuatan untuk menentukan masa depan liga di akhir musim ini. Namun, berita ini datang di tengah-tengah PHK di departemen esports Activision Blizzard, yang menunjukkan potensi masa depan yang kelam untuk rencana esports perusahaan.
According to the financial report, Activision Blizzard offers Overwatch League teams, such as San Francisco Shock and London Spitfire, a payment of $6 million if they choose not to continue participating in the league. The report states, “As previously disclosed, our collaborative arrangement for our professional esports league continues to face obstacles.” This indicates that the company is facing challenges in sustaining its esports venture.
The fate of the Overwatch League will be determined through a voting process among participating teams. If a team decides not to continue based on the updated operating agreement, each team will receive a termination fee of $6 million, totaling approximately $114 million. This decision highlights the financial struggles faced by Activision Blizzard’s franchise-based esports model. Further reports reveal that revenue from the Overwatch League contributes less than 1% to the company’s consolidated net income.
The esports industry has experienced a slowdown in recent years, with some people in the industry expressing skepticism about its profitability. In June, a Valorant team owner referred to esports as “one of the worst things you can experience.” Given this sentiment, many teams may see the upcoming vote as an opportunity to exit the Overwatch League.
However, even though the team chose not to continue, Overwatch esports may not completely come to an end. League commissioner Sean Miller assures fans that Overwatch remains committed to the competitive ecosystem in 2024 and beyond. He states that the company is working to revitalize the global scene with a focus on prioritizing players and fans. While the exact plans are still unclear, Miller’s statement suggests that there may be a future for Overwatch esports, regardless of the team’s decision.
Despite the potential revitalization of the Overwatch esports scene, Activision Blizzard recently experienced significant layoffs in its esports department. Approximately 50 employees lost their jobs, leading to what insiders describe as a “significant destruction of Activision Blizzard’s esports.” This development raises concerns about the company’s ability to sustain and grow its esports endeavors in the future.
In terms of gameplay, Overwatch 2 has received positive reviews. In IGN’s review with a score of 8/10, they stated that the transition to a 5v5 format breathes new life into the sharpest shooter ever. However, they also noted that Overwatch 2 has not fully recaptured its former glory.
In conclusion, the recent announcement by Activision Blizzard regarding the fate of the Overwatch League has raised questions about the future plans for the company’s esports. While teams will have the power to decide whether to continue, layoffs in the esports department indicate potential challenges ahead. Nevertheless, Overwatch remains committed to a competitive ecosystem and strives to revitalize the global scene. Overwatch esports fans can look forward to what will happen, although there is still uncertainty.
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