Nadeshot Slams Call of Duty League Leaders: 'Wake Up'
Los Angeles Thieves owner Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag criticized the Call of Duty League in a series of tweets published Thursday, exhorting League administrators to "wake up."
Nadeshot, who is both CEO and co-owner of 100 Thieves, chiefly complained about the lack of professional competition around the release of Call of Duty: Vanguard, the latest in the series. This lack of competition has left the scene's many storylines to languish.
We literally went from players fighting for their pride and respect every single weekend through a 256-512 team bracket for $1,000 bucks each in front of 100,000 people to no competition or tournaments until 3 months after the game has been released. Wake up @Activision.
— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) December 30, 2021
"We literally went from players fighting for their pride and respect every single weekend through a 256-512 team bracket for $1,000 bucks each in front of 100,000 people to no competition or tournaments until 3 months after the game has been released. Wake up @Activision," he wrote.
"Call of Duty arguably has the most entertaining, outspoken & personable players out of any esports community. Storylines and rivalries that literally span across a DECADE. Vanguard releases and the league says, 'you're not allowed to compete on stream together until February,'" he continued, adding a crying laughing emoji to the end of the tweet.
Ultimately, Nadeshot expressed disappointment with Activision's failure to make the CDL enough of a success, saying he took a leap of faith with the Los Angeles Thieves that has not paid off.
I went to our board of directors pleading for us to get back into competitive Call of Duty. I said let's spend the money, let's give our community what they're asking for, just trust me and I'll make sure LA Thieves is a success. Two years later, I guess I'm the fool.
— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) December 30, 2021
"I went to our board of directors pleading for us to get back into competitive Call of Duty. I said let's spend the money, let's give our community what they're asking for, just trust me and I'll make sure LA Thieves is a success. Two years later, I guess I'm the fool."
The Call of Duty League wrapped up its 2021 season in August. Call of Duty: Vanguard was released in early November. The first professional play tied to the game won't take place until the 2022 Kickoff Classic, starting Jan. 21, and the league's first official 2022 season game won't take place until Feb. 4.
As a team owner in the league, Nadeshot's complaints carry significant weight. It remains to be seen how Activision and the CDL will respond to his criticisms.