Activision announces the closure of tournament platform GameBattles

by Danny Craig ·

Major League Gaming

Activision Blizzard has announced the shutdown of GameBattles, a tournament platform created under the Major League Gaming (MLG) brand, after two decades of operation.

The details:

Activision announced the closure via the GameBattles X account, stating that the site will be shut down on January 15, 2024, more than 20 years after its launch in 2003. “GameBattles Community, After careful consideration, we have decided to shut down the GameBattles platform and service as of January 15th, 2024,” the statement reads. “If you have any questions about your account or the shutdown, please visit our support site”.
Chris Evans, a longtime MLG employee and former GameBattles Operations Supervisor, shared more information about the closure, confirming that all employees on the team have been laid off, marking the "end" of the iconic MLG brand after Activision acquired the company in 2016.
Users and former employees of the platform have begun to share stories about GameBattles' significance over the years, including its use to qualify for both amateur and professional competitions in Call of Duty, Overwatch, and StarCraft II, as well as its status as the largest tournament site in the industry during the 2000s. Some, such as MLG and Esports Engine founder Adam Apicella, have even offered to rescue the brand from Activision.
The closure of GameBattles is part of Activision's plans to scale back on esports, with its franchised Overwatch League ending and layoffs of esports staff earlier this year, leaving fans wondering what will happen with Overwatch esports and the company's Call of Duty League.

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