The US military dropped a planned sponsorship with Blizzard’s Activision Duty esports league after allegations of Activision’s work culture of harassment and discrimination came to light last year, according to documents obtained by Shame.
At the time, the military wasn’t the only organization reconsidering its plans with Activision; sponsors, including Coca-Cola and State Farm, also evaluated their support for the Overwatch League. The edge contacted sponsors listed on the Call of Duty League and the Overwatch League websites in August 2021, and as noted by Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach, our investigation of the military appeared in the documents as part of a broader discussion of “the issue of brand reputation.”
The documents which Shame obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, also details the military’s plans to sponsor things like esports tournaments, streamers, and events as part of its efforts to reach Gen Z. I really recommend you read Vice article and browse the docs for yourself, as they’re an interesting look at the military’s elaborate plans to try and recruit Gen Z through esports and gaming.
Gaming is an area the military has focused on for some time, though it has run into trouble on occasion. It has also proven to be divisive with legislators; in 2020 it failed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) proposed ban on US military recruiting on Twitch by a House vote.
