Confirmed: Chinese Overwatch League Team Chengdu Hunters Disbands

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The Chengdu Hunters, an Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, has officially disbanded.
02
The dissolution follows the January 2023 collapse of the distribution partnership between NetEase and Activision Blizzard, which rendered games like Overwatch 2 legally unavailable in mainland China.
03
Core players from the organization have either transitioned to the Hangzhou Spark or have become free agents.
04
The team's closure was signaled by a final social media message on January 23, 2023, and a lack of activity on official channels since late 2022.
05
The Overwatch League confirmed the team's absence from the 2023 season schedule on April 13, 2023, citing an ongoing review of the organization's future direction.
06
The inability to legally operate Activision Blizzard titles in China has forced several regional OWL franchises to consider relocation or shifts to other titles like Valorant.

Summary

The Chengdu Hunters, a professional Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, have officially disbanded. This closure marks a significant contraction in the Chinese esports landscape, as the organization’s core roster has either transitioned to the Hangzhou Spark or entered free agency. The dissolution follows a period of organizational silence, with the team’s official social media channels ceasing activity in early 2023.

The primary catalyst for this closure was the collapse of the distribution partnership between NetEase and Activision Blizzard in January 2023. This breakdown resulted in the suspension of major titles, including Overwatch 2, within mainland China. Because NetEase held the necessary government authorizations to operate these games, the loss of the partnership rendered the continued operation of the Chengdu Hunters franchise legally and logistically untenable within the region.

The Overwatch League confirmed the team's absence from the 2023 season schedule in April, noting that the organization was evaluating its future direction. While other Chinese franchises have sought workarounds to remain competitive in the league, the Chengdu Hunters ultimately ceased operations. This event highlights the broader instability facing international esports organizations operating within the Chinese market following the withdrawal of key game titles.