Blizzard confirms it is “transitioning from Overwatch League” amid team withdrawals

The Overwatch League could be officially over. In a statement given to GGRecon, an OWL spokesperson confirmed that the League will be transitioning to a new model.

“We are transitioning from the Overwatch League and evolving competitive Overwatch in a new direction. We are grateful to everyone who made OWL possible and remain focused on building our vision of a revitalized esports program. We are excited to share details with you all in the near future.”

The news arrived after the Toronto Defiant had confirmed their exit from the Overwatch League and would be eligible to receive the $6,000,000 cancellation fee. The Chengdu Hunters had previously exited the Overwatch League before the start of its sixth season. 

The Overwatch League had remained in limbo amid a vote on an updated franchise agreement. With the vote's resolution, a new competitive ecosystem will have to be found. It is expected that Blizzard Entertainment will work with the third-party tournament organisers ESL FACEIT Group and WDG esports to plan the future of the Overwatch esports ecosystem.