In less than seven weeks, in May, Activision Blizzard Season 5 will be official over watch League kicks off with a big live event in Texas. But just before the start The league still lacks sponsors. Officials claim there are “ongoing discussions” with various partners but after numerous lawsuits and allegations of sexual harassment over the last yearit seems companies are still cautious about getting involved.
Due to Covid-19 the over watch League has not held a live event in North America since early 2020. So it’s a big deal for Activision Blizzard and various teams and people involved in the league to start the next season of the popular esports league with a big, personal event. It will also be one of the first places surveillance 2 debuts, the still-development sequel to Blizzard’s popular hero shooter.
But as reported by The Washington Postas the league prepares for their big return and a new era of over watchit is currently runs without big sponsors.
Large company Sponsors such as Kellogg’s, State Farm, and Coca-Cola ended their endorsement deals with the league the following the public disclosure of a legal action filed July 20, 20201, by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing after a year-long investigation uncovered stories of several women suffering harassment and abuse on a daily basis while working at Activision Blizzard.
And the Washington Post was said by these companies that na plan to resume their advertising or sponsorship deals with League in 2022, although the companies also rejected to say if the decision to skip 2022 was due to the ongoing lawsuits Activision Blizzard is facing.
Continue reading: All about the Activision Blizzard lawsuits, explained
Comcast was the official Internet Service Provider for the league last season. But now Komcastwho owns it over watch league team the Philadelphia Fusionhe said post Office that the company currently has no plans to sponsor the league either.
The new head of over watch League, Sean Miller said of post Office that plans for this new season have been in the works for some time and that they are open to “reinforce these plans” with future sponsors. When asked about the complete lack of sponsors on the league’s official websiteMiller told the outlet that discussions are ongoing with previous sponsors and “potential new ones”
igamesnews contacted Activision Blizzard about the lack of sponsorship
But with a few weeks to go before the league’s big return, companies don’t seem ready to jump back in. And as more lawsuits come out, exposing even more horrific shit, it seems unlikely all big companies will be in line to sponsor over watch League the upcoming fifth season.
EEarlier this month for example was a new lawsuit submitted by parents an employee of Activision Blizzard who argue so often Sexual harassment at work contributed to her daughter’s suicide during a company retreat in 2017.
