In the midst of its impending acquisition by Microsoft, Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch League (OWL) faces uncertainty as the company laid off approximately 50 employees from its esports division. The move comes as the company prepares for significant potential changes to the OWL, which might signal the end of its current city-based franchise format.
The layoffs, reported by The Verge, took the esports community by surprise, and some speculate that a skeleton crew might conclude the current OWL and World Series of Warzone seasons. Former employees expressed concerns about the company’s capacity to support esports initiatives internally moving forward. This round of layoffs follows a similar action in March 2021 when around 50 employees from the esports teams were let go.
