Texas-based Outlaws Entertainment, once home to the revered Houston Outlaws Overwatch League team, has closed its doors less than a year on from the league’s closure and an organization rebrand that saw them drop esports altogether.
The org announced its end via a subdued post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 26. “Since our inception seven years ago as the Houston Outlaws, we have experienced an extraordinary journey filled with unforgettable moments,” the org said, adding that despite its launch in the inaugural season of the OWL, it stated it was “unable to deliver a sustainable business model.”
Apart from its endeavors in Overwatch, Outlaws also ran Team AXLE, a Rocket League squad, which was released last October after two seasons. “Thank you Outlaws Nation. We were proud to have you as our community and will miss you as we all venture forward,” the Outlaws statement concluded.
The Houston Outlaws, then owned by OpTic Gaming’s Infinite Esports, started slowly in the opening seasons of the OWL back in 2017. The squad wouldn’t find major success in Overwatch until the penultimate season in 2022, finishing third after a spirited playoff run and a narrow loss to eventual champions Dallas Fuel. The team backed up their performance and went one better in 2023—the last ever season of OWL—qualifying for the grand final but lost out to Florida Mayhem 4-0.
The organization built up quite the fanbase along the way, something former president and current Evil Geniuses chief executive Chris DeAppolonio was proud of during his tenure at the org. “Those first few years of the Outlaws and OWL were on another level: We had 200+ show up for a meet and greet at HEB and our first homestand was epic, what a special time,” he said.
The Outlaws were acquired by Immortals in June 2019, who then sold the brand to Beasley Broadcast Group just four months later as Immortals were already invested in the OWL via the Los Angeles Valiant. Beasley managed the org as it was until 2023’s closure of the OWL, after which the Overwatch team was released and the focus shifted almost entirely to content creation.
Published: Jul 27, 2024 02:28 am