Daybreak Games and Twin Galaxies are reportedly set to close operations of the H1Z1 Pro League after just one split.
The competitive league was announced in October 2017 and was launched on April 21st of this year.
At the time of the league’s inception, the aim was to create a sustainable ecosystem in partnership with the 15 teams that joined. According to a report from ESPN Esports, however, things didn’t go to plan.
Jace Hall, Co-Chairman of Twin Galaxies is said to have sent out a letter to the teams and players that competed in the H1Z1 Pro League, confirming that the league wouldn’t be renewed for a second split. A number of issues have taken place throughout the tenure of the Battle Royale competition, extending beyond dwindling viewership and interest.
Some of the problems include delayed payments of stipends for teams in the league and incorrect visa classifications. A number of teams that competed – such as Cloud9, Team SoloMid, and Counter Logic Gaming – have reportedly paid players at a net loss due to failed payments from the league.
Other teams that may not have been able to pay players and needed the stipend were in more trouble than bigger organisations. According to reports, several players have not been paid by certain organisations despite them receiving an earlier stipend.
Obey Alliance, which is owned by Infinite Esports & Entertainment, officially exited the league on September 17th.
Our two years in H1Z1 was a storied journey of highs and lows, but even the best stories have to come to an end. Today we'll be withdrawing from the H1Z1 Pro League.
We wish only the best to our former players as their esports careers continue. pic.twitter.com/eMvvhIv5mB
— Obey Alliance (@ObeyAlliance) September 17, 2018
In the message from Hall, it was assured that the league still planned to send the stipend payment to resolve that particular problem. It was noted that the player base and interest in H1Z1 was steadily dropping, and that was one of the contributing factors of the closure.
The H1Z1 Pro League’s second split was set to kick off on September 15th, with the payment set to be distributed by July 28th. The split was allegedly obligated to have begun by the end of 2018, with stipends being paid over a month in advance.
Esports Insider says: Things didn’t look great for the H1Z1 Pro League when it opened to very modest streaming numbers on Facebook. Add in the ongoing problems with payments and you can see why the league was cut; why would teams want to commit to the competition if it was at an entire net loss? It’s always a shame to see a bunch of players’ futures become uncertain, but at least they know where they stand instead of wrongly waiting for the league to return.