Recently, Blizzard unveiled the plans for a renewed Overwatch esports ecosystem and those very plans seemed to reinvigorate much of the community and excite them for what is planned this year and onwards. However, Blizzard has since clarified that the majority of its esports division have been laid off as part of the recent Microsoft Gaming layoffs, and now countless members who have been attempting to keep Overwatch esports and such afloat for years are out of a job.
It's reported by Esports Illustrated that 60 of the 72 employees in the esports division at Blizzard have been let go, including presenters Soe Gschwind and Matt Morello. This comes across as quite a gut punch considering both were heavily involved in the announcement and reveal of the new Overwatch esports ecosystem.
Granted, considering Blizzard has given FACEIT and other tournament organisers the responsibility for running Overwatch esports going forward, it was probably expected that the esports division would be gutted as a result.
