Call of Duty community mourns GameBattles as it closes operations
With the Microsoft x Activision merger, Bill Gates and co. didn't just pick up the Call of Duty series, they also got their hands on a handful of its competitive subsidiaries which have paved the way for CoD to become the powerhouse it is.
MLG and GameBattles were both handed over to Microsoft in the merger, and fans hoped that we would see a revival of both of these platforms to help project Call of Duty once again, producing better players in the competitive pipeline and giving those sweats a place to grind away from casual public lobbies - the best of both worlds for everyone.
However, GameBattles has now announced it will be closing and the higher-ups have let go of another wave of staff, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of the old-school CoD fans.
GameBattles announces its closure
GameBattles was where true legends were made in Call of Duty. Everyone who is anyone now started on the GB production line, and it even once fed directly into the professional circuit as pro teams would have to accrue enough GB "Pro Points" to qualify for major tournaments.
But the heart and soul of the CoD competitive community has now been ripped out, as GameBattles announced, "we have decided to shut down the GameBattles platform and service as of January 15th, 2024."
Popular stalwart of the scene "MLG_Chris" shed more light on the matter, saying this was a direct decision from Activision Blizzard, and with it, the entire MLG brand will become dormant.
"This didn’t have to happen. There’s so much untapped potential with MLG, GameBattles, and the future of Esports. I hope one day both MLG & GB get the attention & internal support they deserve—not for me or anyone who worked here, but for the amazing community they created over the years," he said on Twitter.
Call of Duty players pay respects to GameBattles
With the news circulating, an abundance of Call of Duty figures took to social media to pour one out for the childhood-making platform.
"I actually think GameBattles is the reason every single pro is here today. That site single-handedly forged friendships and gave so many an escape from everyday life. If you know you know…and if you don’t, I wish that you knew," said Anthony "Methodz" Zinni on Twitter.
Other pros also expressed their sadness. Dillon "Attach" Price said, "11-year-old me is crying right now," Josiah "Slacked" Berry said, "My entire career started from GameBattles matches. Wow this is insane," and Doug "Censor" Martin added, "This is the saddest day ever."
Nick "NICKMERCS" Kolcheff also weighed on his CoD roots, posting, "Man… GameBattles. This was where it all started for so many of us OG’s in the space. We were duking it out on SOCOM II runnin’ the M82 sniper on Foxhunt… 20 years ago. I’ll never forget those days, some of the best ever. GG’s & RIP’s."
Even from the business perspective, former MLG founder Adam Apicella said, "At one point MLG had... The first gaming VOD + community upload site (The Gameroom) right around the same time YT launched, live streaming before Twitch existed, the largest gaming community hub in NA with the MLG forums, the largest OLT with Gamebattles, the largest, most popular mainstream gaming event circuit.
"This Gamebattles shuttering news is even worse because the industry needs MORE options for this exact service. The current OLT competitive landscape for platforms are filled with horrific tech built on dog water, lipstick on the pig technology stacks."
CoD players do have until January to round off their GBs stats in style, but the new year will mean we will have to find somewhere else to host custom matches, wagers, and tournaments.
