CDL Major 4 to be hosted behind closed doors and fans are fuming

As the Call of Duty League continues to limp over the line towards whatever this offseason has to offer - whether it be an Overwatch League-esque demolition job or a revamp of the current franchise model - the 2024 season has been dealt with yet another blow to the ribs.

Call of Duty esports has not enjoyed the most fruitful start to 2024, after announcing a stunted season with just four Majors, although the action has continued to be up to its incredibly high standards.

But the fourth and final Major will now be switching to a studio setting, as Carolina Royal Ravens have pulled out of hosting the event, leaving the community furious.

Carolina Royal Ravens back out of CDL Major 4, Activision take over for studio-based LAN

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As of the 2023 season, individual teams have been producing their own LAN events throughout the campaign, with the organisations combining with TOs to put on Activision's shows. 

But the Carolina Royal Ravens have now reneged on their promise of hosting Major 4, listing "a range of factors" as their reasoning.

"We know how many of you were looking forward to our event, and we hope to put on a show in our hometown that fans can be proud of in the future," they said on Twitter.

This means Activision and the CDL itself will be hosting the fourth Major of the year, which will take place behind closed doors in a studio setting with no live audience.

"Due to Major IV no longer happening in Charlotte, the tournament will still take place on LAN with no live audience in Burbank, California," the CDL said in its own statement on Twitter.

It is the second consecutive year that an organisation has had to pull out of Major 4, as New York Subliners also dropped out of hosting the same event last year, leading to another Studio event.

Call of Duty community furious as CDL Major 4 pivots to no-fan event

Fans of the franchise were hopeful that Royal Ravens could finally put on an event after years of snubbing London and Europe, but the announcement served as quite the sucker punch.

"'We don’t host events because it’s too much money to do it in Europe', Can’t even host a major in the states," one fan jibed in a popular comment on Twitter.

"CoD League having a Major without a live audience feels like we are back in peak COVID again... but we aren't," said journalist Jake Lucky.

Others have taken issue with the franchise system altogether.

"This is so sad, league has been getting worse and worse every year. Please end it already," added community figure "KeviSkillz".

The upcoming Major 3 in Toronto will now serve as the final crowd-attended event until the climactic World Championships, which have yet to be announced.