This Weekend's Overwatch League Matches Canceled Due to California Standoff

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This Weekend's Overwatch League Matches Canceled Due to California Standoff

Earlier this week, Blizzard cancelled all Overwatch League live events until at least the end of May, citing the spread of the coronavirus, opting for an online-only alternative. However, even these matches will not take place in light of the newly announced California blockade announced today by the governor of California.

"For the overall safety and well-being of our players, teams, and staff, and in conjunction with the California statewide "stay home" order, we are canceling the Overwatch League tournament scheduled for this weekend," a short statement from Blizzard said. We look forward to sharing more details regarding the rescheduling of the matches and resuming activities soon."

The matches were scheduled to take place online, but three of the participating teams are based in California: the San Francisco Shock, the Los Angeles Valiant, and the Los Angeles Gladiators. In order to compete in the games, these teams (and presumably all associated staff) would have to violate the terms of a lockdown order requiring them to stay home until further notice, except for those essential to California residents.

All the latest information on coronaviruses relevant to the gaming industry is summarized here; for more information on the Covid-19 coronavirus, visit the North American Centers for Disease Control, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, or the World Health Organization.

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