As the Overwatch League enters its sixth season, concerns have arisen due to dwindling viewership, financial losses for franchises, and some teams exiting the scene entirely. Activision Blizzard has now unveiled a plan, detailed in their Q2 earnings report, that involves holding a crucial vote in the near future. OWL teams will decide between adopting a new operating agreement or opting for a complete departure from the League, with a significant $6 million termination fee offered to teams that choose the latter option.
Despite the potential challenges facing the Overwatch League, the developers of Overwatch 2 remain focused on supporting the competitive aspect of the game, regardless of the league's status. In a recent discussion with the media ahead of Overwatch 2's Season 6 update, Executive Producer Jared Neuss confirmed his involvement in a meeting about the future of competitive Overwatch on the very same day. Neuss stated:
"One of the things we've been talking about in general is what is the future of competitive Overwatch? We believe it's a big part of the game, a big part of the community."
While specific details have yet to be finalized and shared publicly, the developers are actively engaged in discussions and are forming preliminary plans to address the outcomes of the OWL vote later this year. Their unwavering commitment is centered on ensuring a thriving competitive scene and establishing a clear path to professional gaming for players.
The form this support will take in the upcoming year remains uncertain if the Overwatch League were to conclude. However, based on Neuss's comments, it appears that the esports landscape may not face a complete upheaval.
Addressing concerns about cosmetic rewards, particularly OWL skins, Contenders skins, and player or region-based skins, the developers shared insights from their earlier conversations. Neuss highlighted that he was engaged in discussions about the future of these rewards, emphasizing the potential to enhance their appeal and connection to the player and viewer experience.
"We have a bunch of ideas for next year that I think are awesome. Some of those I guarantee we'll be able to execute on, some of them I'm a little more like 'we'll see if we can make them work.' So I would expect some changes there, but nothing concrete."
This suggests that not only will existing rewards persist, but new and exciting rewards might also be introduced through innovative methods in the future. Players and fans will need to await developments on the competitive front in the coming months to get a clearer picture of how these plans will unfold.
