How much truth is on both sides has yet to be determined. Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether the Overwatch League can really start in autumn.
Have you already heard the latest about the mysterious “Anniversary” loot boxes?
Is the Overwatch League already failing in its setup? Many teams are hesitant about the high costs that Blizzard imposes.
At BlizzCon 2016, the developers of Overwatch introduced the “Overwatch League” project. This was meant to be a league for eSports players who want to dedicate their lives to Overwatch, similar to the ESL. Players would be contracted, have a fixed income, and receive compensation for participating in tournaments and winning prizes for their team. In a preview video, Blizzard explained the concept in more detail.
It was originally supposed to start this autumn, but that now seems to be in jeopardy. According to reports from ESPN and Kotaku, several large eSports teams have already decided against joining the league and have disbanded their teams. These include teams like compLexity, Team SoloMid, Red Reserve, Denial Esports, and Reunited.
As a reason, it is stated that the entry costs to the league are unexpectedly high. Depending on the location, it is said that the price lies between 15 million and 25 million US dollars. For comparison: In League of Legends, a well-established eSports title, the costs are “only” around 1.8 million US dollars.
Additionally, there are “unexpectedly poor contract conditions”, as partners would not be entitled to profit until at least 2021, and only if certain conditions are met.
In general, there are also major concerns about whether Overwatch is even suitable for a large audience. Especially the inadequate viewer options are still seen as a bad joke by many. Until Blizzard shows that they can offer a solid spectator mode, many do not want to think more about the topic.
Blizzard responded to an inquiry from Kotaku:
“First, we want to clarify that our primary goal is to create an exciting eSports ecosystem for Overwatch, with the Overwatch League being the tip of the iceberg. It should be accessible to a wide audience and be sustainable and rewarding for all involved.”
They are countering a few rumors, even though Blizzard does not name names:
“We would like to dispel some rumors that we do not take the existing systems into account. Anyone who knows Blizzard knows how much we care about our communities.
The league is built on the best elements of existing eSports systems and traditional sports, and we are in discussions with many teams and owners from both sides, as it takes many people to carry out a project of this size. These conversations are going well, and there is a lot of enthusiasm around our ambitious plan.”
How much truth is on both sides has yet to be determined. Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether the Overwatch League can really start in autumn.
Have you already heard the latest about the mysterious “Anniversary” loot boxes?
