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Esports organization 100 Thieves has confirmed that it will not participate in the franchised Call of Duty Global League (CDL) in 2020. In a video on Twitter, Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag cited the high cost of operating a franchise. “We just can’t take that risk right now…to make a financial commitment as large as this just doesn’t make sense for us right now.”
It is with a very heavy heart we announce that 100 Thieves will not be participating in competitive Call of Duty in 2020. pic.twitter.com/cdJD9DdUvQ
— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) August 29, 2019
Additionally, Haag noted Activision Blizzard’s policy against having established esports organizations use existing branding for their CDL teams. To date, OpTic Gaming is the only organization active in Call of Duty that has been confirmed to be participating in the CDL, through its acquisition by Immortals Gaming Club, which secured a Los Angeles franchise slot earlier this year.
While the ownership behind Splyce and Envy will be participating in the league, it is likely that both companies will create new brands for the CDL, as was the case for their participation in the Overwatch League.
Haag began his esports career as a competitor for OpTic Gaming’s Call of Duty team. 100 Thieves entered Call of Duty this season and won back-to-back Major championships, as well as finishing in second place at the World Championship earlier this month.
