They say that there are only 12 employees left in the esport divisions of Activision Blizzard
The promising future of competitive Overwatch esports has already been tarnished by yet another wave of layoffs, and this time it has also affected the professional staff of this discipline.
Rumors have it that, due to the recent layoffs at Activision Blizzard, several veterans from the hosting and broadcasting team of the Overwatch League (OWL) have lost their jobs. However, in reality, the number of laid-off employees may extend far beyond just the mentioned individuals.
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Activision Blizzard fired commentator Matt
Among those layoffs are also commentator Matt “Mr. X” Morello and host/analyst Soe Gschwind-Repp, two of the most recognizable faces of the Overwatch League (OWL) who have been part of the league’s broadcasts since its inaugural season in 2018. Morello, who has been actively working behind the scenes to help plan the new OWCS storyline announced just last week, expressed his hope to “remain involved” in the discipline in some capacity.
Soe, on the other hand, shared her disappointment at being let go but hinted that she may have been expecting the news, saying she was ready for that call with champagne in hand. Morello and Soe are just two of the 60 individuals who were laid off from Blizzard’s esports divisions. And it didn’t only affect those who worked on Overwatch but also those involved in developing the Call of Duty League. Several CDL employees were informed of their layoffs only a few days after returning from work at the Boston Major. Imagine working on a major event in the discipline and then being abruptly let go once it’s over.
Currently, Activision Blizzard’s entire esports division has only 12 full-time employees
According to CDL reporter Jacob Hale, it appears that Activision Blizzard’s esports division is currently operating with a mere 12 staff members. This significant reduction in personnel can be attributed to the recent layoff of approximately 1,900 Microsoft employees who were involved in gaming divisions. Surprisingly, these job cuts occurred just last week. Such downsizing events are becoming increasingly common in the gaming industry, with 2024 already witnessing several cases.
For individuals like Morello, Soe, and others who had dedicated their efforts to Overwatch, this news undoubtedly came as a devastating blow. It arrived just a week after the exciting announcement of the new Overwatch Champion Series, an open system designed to inject new life into a stagnant scene that had been dormant for months.
