Pete Vlastelica is Stepping Down as Overwatch League Commissioner
| Tags: Overwatch
| Author Malik Shelp
The Overwatch League’s Grand Finals kick off next weekend, yet sources indicate that Pete Vlastelica may be stepping down from commissioner of the League.
Pete Vlastelica stepped into the shoes of Nate Nanzer as commissioner back in May of 2019 when Nanzer left to pursue a career at Epic Games. Despite the success of the Overwatch League, Nanzer had decided it was best to move on. The League had significant plans to push the 2020 season to an all LAN format, which fell through once COVID-19 swept the planet. The Overwatch League adjusted to the best of their ability but still struggled to make the impact they were hoping for this season. Vlastelica was at the wheel when everything went belly-up and had to shape the future of OWL in 2020. The sources that Esports Observer spoke to indicate that while Vlastelica may be stepping down from commissioner, he will remain the president and CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports.
I get way too much credit for the success of the Overwatch League. It’s been awesome to be our public face, but too many overestimate my role in making the league great. It isn’t about me; it’s never been. It’s about all of you. 3/4
— Nate Nanzer (@natenanzer) May 25, 2019
There have been a fair number of issues since the Overwatch League began back in 2018. Team rosters have been in a constant state of flux, with over half of the teams currently unable to keep a steady roster for more than a year. Not to mention the financial strain after the cancellation of almost every homestand of 2020. Vlastelica did his best to adapt the League to the changing world, but sadly, the opportunity for growth has been slim this year. Other titles like Valorant have not only stolen viewers but also professional players from Overwatch. As some of the top dogs exit the Overwatch League, and teams build rosters on a budget, there is a chance for the tier 2 scene to make a breakout. There has yet to be an official announcement from Blizzard and the Overwatch League about Pete Vlastelica departing, but it is only a matter of time until we get the details.
Malik specializes in esports photography, videography, video editing, and graphic design. He has also written Overwatch and Dota articles for over 2 years for DBLTAP and other esports outlets. You can learn more about Malik on our About page.