USA Today to shut down Overwatch esports site “Overwatch Wire”

Bill Cooney

Layoffs in the Overwatch League offseason have seemed to happen all over, and now USA Today’s Overwatch esports site, The Overwatch Wire, will be closing down too.

Overwatch Wire, which put out interviews and coverage of the Overwatch League and Overwatch in general, was started at the beginning of the Overwatch League inaugural season. 

The reason for the site’s closure isn’t yet known, but some have speculated that USA Today failed to understand how to retain views or monetize esports content with the sport bigger than ever.

One of the site’s senior editors, Tatjana Vejnovic, wrote on Twitter that “as of November 5 I will be a freelancer.” Indicating a potential shut-down date for the website, which is still active at the time of writing.

Vejnovic gave no reason for the site’s shutdown but said she and the group of volunteer freelance contributors who helped her with the site were glad to have been given the opportunity.

It’s not clear what, if anything, will take Overwatch Wire’s place after the site closes down and if USA Today’s coverage of the Overwatch League will continue.

Overwatch League’s second season is set to start in 2019, but there will be at least one less media outlet covering the action next season.

Sign up to Dexerto for free and receive:
Fewer Ads|Dark Mode|Deals in Gaming, TV and Movies, and Tech