Ever since Covid, which saw the Overwatch League split into two regions (East and West, with these separated by the Pacific Ocean), and then the more recent Blizzard-Tencent split, there has been a huge amount of pressure put onto the Chinese OWL teams. With Overwatch 2, and other Blizzard titles, currently still unplayable in the massive country, many including myself have wondered what this will mean for the future of the four Chinese OWL teams, and while three seem to have weathered this storm so far, one might have another fate.
And this is because in a new statement from the Overwatch League, it is revealed that the Chengdu Hunters might not be competing in the OWL this season at all, as the team contemplates its future.
The Hunters are not set to begin their 2023 campaign next week like every other team in the OWL, meaning the East division will now only see six OWL-level teams battling it out - even if there will be six Contenders-level teams to help boost the numbers.
As for what this does mean for the future of the Hunters is still very much up in the air, but the League has stated that it will share more information when it can.
https://twitter.com/overwatchleague/status/1648386565851299840
Either way though, it wouldn't be fair on the competing teams to have a team return and be in for a shot at the championship if they choose to start their 2023 campaign several weeks and perhaps even months after everyone else.
