Cloud9, one of the leading esports organizations, has made the difficult decision to part ways with several titles and teams. They have released their entire Overwatch League team and are in the process of shutting down their London Spitfire operation. This move comes after a reported vote among franchised teams, resulting in waived fees and a $6 million payout.
In addition to their departure from Overwatch, Cloud9 has also let go of their autobattler and card gaming teams. Ysabel Mueller, the team manager for Overwatch and VALORANT, has also been released. The organization has now completely exited the Dota 2 scene by parting ways with SingSing.
Furthermore, Cloud9 has made significant changes to their Hearthstone team, releasing five players. This decision comes almost a year after Activision-Blizzard scaled back the game’s esports scene, reducing events, prize pools, and participation opportunities.
The reasons behind these changes have not been specified by Cloud9 or the employees affected. Running an esports organization is challenging, requiring adaptability to new titles and the ability to make tough decisions when a game’s popularity declines.
The gaming industry as a whole has faced difficulties in 2023, with layoffs occurring across various sectors despite the growing interest in certain esports titles like VALORANT and CS2. Even with record revenues in the gaming space, organizations such as Evil Geniuses, 100 Thieves, and Amazon Games have also experienced setbacks.
Source: DOTESPORTS
