The Call Of Duty League Just Got Two Brand New Partners


Activision Blizzard has announced two new sponsors for their hugely popular esports team, Call of Duty League (CDL). These two new partners were activated at the home series event at the Shrine Expo Hall in LA.

The franchise has been at its strongest in years since the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare last year. This owes to a change in focus and direction that’s, largely, been a refreshing change of pace for fans.

The popularity of the CDL reflects the popularity of the game franchise. This brand-new esports league began in late January 2020, following the success of the Overwatch League (OWL).

Who Are The New Sponsors Of The Call of Duty League?

Twitter has signed a three-year deal with the league, which will see the platform used for “fan predictions and cheering”. This means that you’ll be able to support your favourite teams by using their new custom emojis and hashtags. 

Twitter is very excited about this new sponsorship. Their Head of Gaming Content Partnerships Rishi Chadha says: “The Call of Duty community has been one of the largest gaming communities on Twitter, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Activision Blizzard to continue to support this vibrant community”.

The other major sponsor CoD has secured is the US Army. While there are some doubts over how well CoD preps you for the frontlines, the US Army clearly sees value in partnering with Activision Blizzard. They’ve agreed to a one-year deal with the publisher. 

What Does This Deal Mean For The CDL?

The deal will involve the army partnering with all levels of Call of Duty esports. This includes the CDL and the Call of Duty Challengers (CDL’s development league). It will also include an extensive partnership with the upcoming Call of Duty Collegiate League.

A photo taken of a large screen where the London Royal Ravens CDL team are playing
Credit – Esports News UK

The U.S. Army will also be the presenting sponsor of a broadcast segment called “Tactical Play” which will review highlights from the matches.

The CoD Collegiate League will be presented by the U.S. Army and will be open to all eligible college students in the U.S and Canada. The U.S. Army will also present exhibition matches at CoD events. Active-duty soldiers will trade their rifles for controllers and turn their targets to each other to try and promote Call of Duty.

A picture of the stadium for Call of Duty MN
Credit – Fail Streams

This isn’t the first time militaries have used games to promote themselves. The U.S. Army put together an esports ream in 2018 to increase recruitment. Many branches now operate their own teams or sponsor other events, like the U.S. Navy’s partnership with DreamHack and ESL.

Given the League’s switch to online play following the coronavirus pandemic, it’s fair to say these new ways to interact will be very welcome for the next few rounds.

Featured Image Credit – Hotspawn