Call of Duty League Shares More With Teams

Activision Blizzard has announced significant structural changes to the Call of Duty League (CDL) aimed at improving the financial sustainability of its franchised teams. Following five seasons of operation and challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the league is shifting its business model to alleviate the economic pressures faced by team owners. These adjustments follow a period of industry-wide volatility and coincide with ongoing legal scrutiny regarding the league's competitive structure.

The core of the new financial strategy involves the elimination of all outstanding franchise fees, the repayment of previously collected fees to teams, and the removal of future fee obligations. Additionally, the league is expanding revenue-sharing opportunities by increasing the percentage of income teams earn from in-game merchandise, including team-specific bundles and the newly included "Champs" bundle. To further stabilize team operations, the league has committed to a two-year minimum revenue guarantee and increased subsidies for hosting major events, such as Opens and league championships.

These policy updates reflect a broader effort by Activision Blizzard to foster a more collaborative partnership with its teams. While the specific financial breakdown of the new revenue-sharing model remains undisclosed, the changes represent a substantial pivot toward supporting the long-term viability of the franchise system. The announcement arrives amidst a high-profile lawsuit alleging that the league’s monopolistic practices have caused financial harm to participants, though the direct influence of this litigation on the new policy remains unconfirmed.