The death of OWL
The Overwatch League (OWL) was Blizzard’s attempt at building a massive esports league on a franchise-based model like the NFL. It was an expensive endeavor, one the soon-to-be-gone-CEO Bobby Kotick championed, and for a few years, it was pretty damn successful. But the swap to Overwatch 2, the cost of the league (a $20 million buy-in that Sports Business Journal reports dropped to $10 million, though it’s unclear when), and brand partners reportedly hesitant to keep doling out funds amidst allegations of sexual harassment taking place within Blizzard, all saw the league struggle in the last few years.
This year, the OWL officially died, and though Blizzard maintains it’s still committed to fostering a rich esports environment, the Grand Finals were a depressing (but beautiful) send-off to a once-beloved league. Who knows if we’ll get an Overwatch esports league in 2024? If we do, it certainly won’t be like the OWL. — AM
