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Activision Blizzard has laid off “rather a lot” of esports-related staff, in line with Matt Morello, former affiliate director of Overwatch League, whose job was among the many cuts.
“Sadly at present, together with plenty of different wonderful esports of us, I have been let go from Blizzard,” Morello wrote on X at present.
An individual near the matter tells PC Gamer that these cuts are a part of the 1,900 layoffs Microsoft introduced final week, which have already hit Activision Blizzard onerous and included the cancellation of Blizzard’s survival recreation mission. In response to the supply, Activision Blizzard’s esports applications are going ahead as deliberate regardless of the cuts.
Amongst these laid off are Overwatch caster Soe Gschwind, who simply final week hosted a video introduction of Overwatch 2’s new esports plans, which incorporates the formation of the Overwatch Champions Collection and partnerships with Faceit and Dreamhack.
The cuts additionally embody Overwatch and Name of Responsibility League’s “observer” groups, who have been chargeable for controlling spectator cameras and different features of esports broadcasting.
“The observer groups for each OWL and CDL did a lot behind the scenes for his or her leagues, their esports, and their video games that many individuals will not ever know,” wrote Observer supervisor Jess DiPaola. “I am devastated.”
In November of final yr, Blizzard introduced that it was “transitioning from the Overwatch League,” its tumultuous try and emulate conventional sports activities with a league of city-based Overwatch groups. The brand new Overwatch Champions Collection construction, which can embody two in-person worldwide occasions, was broadly met with constructive reactions from followers final week.
Alongside the layoffs, Blizzard president Mike Ybarra exited the corporate and was changed by Name of Responsibility GM Johanna Faries.
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