The Call of Duty League has faced challenges over the past few years, including financial difficulties, dwindling viewership, and controversies surrounding the games featured in the League. However, a recent update from the Call of Duty League leadership team is poised to strengthen the future of the CDL, which many thought might not survive past 2024.
In a new ‘team agreement update’, Daniel Tsay, the general manager of Call of Duty Esports, addressed the community directly about a series of changes. These changes aim to boost team revenue and acknowledge the importance of the Call of Duty League’s community support. This is a positive step for Activision and its associated studios and organizers, particularly in light of recent events such as layoffs that affected esports teams at Activision Blizzard, including CDL personnel.
The Future is Bright(?)
Despite ongoing challenges, the Call of Duty League has struggled to maintain a positive image among the global COD community. Many fans have expressed nostalgia for the COD World League, which preceded the current franchising system and featured a more diverse and international array of organizations. Nevertheless, with the recent update, it appears that Activision is committed to solidifying the CDL for the foreseeable future.
In the update posted on the Call of Duty League website, GM Daniel Tsay outlined four key changes that will impact the organizations participating in the CDL:
- Elimination of outstanding entry fees and full refund of previously collected fees.
- Increased revenue for teams from the sale of in-game merchandise and event bundles.
- Enhanced event subsidies for teams hosting live in-person events.
- A two-year revenue guarantee for teams to support ongoing investment in the Call of Duty League.
These changes mean that organizations that invested in the CDL will receive refunds of their franchise fees, more revenue from digital merchandise sales, increased funding for live events, and revenue guarantees for the next two years. These measures aim to provide stability and support for the CDL teams as they navigate the competitive esports landscape.
Many speculate that these changes were influenced by the recent lawsuit filed by OpTic Gaming against Activision. While the lawsuit was resolved, it may have prompted Activision to reevaluate and strengthen the premier esports league in the world of COD.
Propelling The League
In a personal statement, Daniel Tsay expressed his optimism for the future of the CDL:
‘Esports is where many of Call of Duty’s community engage with the franchise and where players have the opportunity to turn their Call of Duty passion into professional careers, and we want to ensure we continue to build a thriving future for this audience. Our teams have a huge role in shaping that future and by investing more into them with these changes, we hope to continue propelling the CDL forward.’
For the latest Call of Duty news, be sure to follow Esports.net for updates.
