The Call of Duty League is refunding all entry fees as part of “a new approach that sets us up for mutual success,” league general manager Daniel Tsay announced this week.

CDL participants will get back whatever portion of the $25 million participation fees that have already been paid.

In addition to waiving entry fees, the league said teams also will earn increased revenue tied to the sale of their in-game merchandise.

“We know how meaningful in-game bundles can be for Teams and we want to make sure they have an increased ability to drive their own financial success,” Tsay wrote in a CDL “community update” issued Tuesday.

The league is also increasing existing event subsidies for teams organizing live in-person events, and giving teams a two-year minimum guarantee of revenue “so they can continue investing into the Call of Duty League with more peace of mind.”

“While the Call of Duty League’s popularity continues to grow, evident by this past season where we saw the highest viewership in history and record-breaking attendance at our in-person events, we are redoubling efforts on the business side to ensure the success and longevity of competitive Call of Duty,” Tsay wrote.

The Call of Duty League, organized by Activision, launched in 2020 and currently features 12 teams. The New York Subliners were crowned the 2023 season champions after a 5-0 sweep of the Toronto Defiant in the June 18 grand final.

–Field Level Media