Blizzard purchases IGN Pro League assets, "no plans" to continue operation

Blizzard has purchased the IGN Pro League, acquiring all assets and technology, and finding a new role for affected staff.

IGN reports some current staff will join Blizzard's eSports team, while others be part of a new Blizzard team in San Franciso which will focus on "creating high-quality web and mobile content in support of Blizzard games".

“This new team will help us to further develop the rich media experiences that extend the fun and engagement of our games online,” Blizzard's Itzik Ben-Bassat said.

“This is a team of passionate gamers with a proven track record, and we’re looking forward to now leveraging their expertise and technology to support a variety of online efforts.”

Although this news seems to run counter to the publisher's fervent denials of a purchase in February, Blizzard has said it has "no plans to continue operation of the IPL business" - the asset buyout is just a little more complete than earlier messaging suggested.

Bereft of its own tournament series, IGN has announced it will partner with existing leagues to continue eSports coverage.

The IGN Pro League continued operation though last weekend, but after Ziff Davis acquired the entertainment network, IGN began seeking a new owner for the league. It's unfortunate to see it go out of operation, but good to see no jobs were lost in the process.