Layoffs in the Overwatch League offseason have seemed to happen all over, and now USA Today’s Overwatch esports site, The Overwatch Wire, will be closing down too.
Overwatch Wire, which put out interviews and coverage of the Overwatch League and Overwatch in general, was started at the beginning of the Overwatch League inaugural season.
The reason for the site’s closure isn’t yet known, but some have speculated that USA Today failed to understand how to retain views or monetize esports content with the sport bigger than ever.
One of the site’s senior editors, Tatjana Vejnovic, wrote on Twitter that “as of November 5 I will be a freelancer.” Indicating a potential shut-down date for the website, which is still active at the time of writing.
Vejnovic gave no reason for the site’s shutdown but said she and the group of volunteer freelance contributors who helped her with the site were glad to have been given the opportunity.
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As of Monday, November 5th, 2018, I will be a freelancer.
If you know of any opportunities, please let me know. Running Overwatch Wire for the past year was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I'm sorry for disappointing you all. Thanks for everything.
— Tatjana Vejnovic (@Digital_Vix3n) October 15, 2018
USAToday will be shuttering their esports site the Overwatch Wire as another mainstream tech/sports site, with esports bigger than its ever been, fails to understand how to retain views or monetize esports content.
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) October 15, 2018
It’s not clear what, if anything, will take Overwatch Wire’s place after the site closes down and if USA Today’s coverage of the Overwatch League will continue.
Overwatch League’s second season is set to start in 2019, but there will be at least one less media outlet covering the action next season.