During the inaugural season of the Call of Duty Leauge, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the organization and running of the league. Matches had to be played online, and production had to be moved to a remote setting. Technical issues were felt and many players suffered issues out of their control, impacting on some outcomes of matches.
2021 isn't going to be like every other year. The pandemic is still present and maintaining an online structure will be a disappointment to many fans and players. According to The Esports Observer, a bubble is being considered in order to move the CDL back to LAN.
What is this "bubble" system?
If you are not an NBA fan, the bubble might be unfamiliar. For example, NBA players have been in "quarantine" since the start of the Playoffs in Orlando. The premises are not open to the public and only a few people are allowed to enter after a very extensive health checks. A certificate is also required to leave the premises, with a valid reason. No entry is tolerated without testing. All staff and players are in one building in order to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19.
Isolation is a long time. Relatives of the players (long-time friends, close family or agents) were recently invited to join them in order to be able to continue playing NBA games in the best conditions.
The bubble for the CDL?
If the reports are accurate, the Call of Duty League will be held in a bubble, either in Las Vegas or Dallas. Even with no fans present, a return to offline play is certainly a positive in terms of eliminating any issues that could take place online.
Dominique Gelineau, general manager of Toronto Ultra, appears to deny the reports of a potential bubble, and has tweeted "These rumors are getting really absurd ..."
Some players including Seth "Scump" Abner, have disagreed with the ideas. The idea of putting aside all personal life for the competition does not delight players.
Activision has not yet commented on the subject, but it appears to be "just an idea". It is still unclear as to how the 2021 season structure will look.
Photo credit: Florida Mutineers
Three time Call of Duty world champion James "Clayster" Eubanks has announced his new home ahead of the 2021 season.
