There are some major changes on the horizon for the Call of Duty League. It was recently revealed that the Florida Mutineers – currently in tenth place in the CDL standings – is set to merge with Heretics, a Spanish esports organisation that disappeared from the Call of Duty scene in 2019. This merger will birth an all-new team by the name of ‘Miami Heretics’, and the organisation’s first roster has already been passed around through rumours.
As an all-Spanish organisation, Heretics has historically featured – almost exclusively – players from that country. That’ll remain unchanged as the Miami Heretics merger is completed, with some of the ‘new talent’ coming into the CDL through the merger having COD esports experience that can be traced back as far as 2016. Recently, the proposed squad has enjoyed success on the Challengers circuit, but it’s time to move on to bigger and better things.
All Aboard For a Mighty Change
Image Credit: Call of Duty League
Despite being present in the Call of Duty League since the inaugural season, the Florida Mutineers have always failed to gain any real traction. During the 2020 season, there were some low-level victories followed by a seventh-place finish in the Championship that yielded a $175,000 prize. Since then, the League hasn’t been kind to the Florida Mutineers – especially this season. At the time of publishing, the Mutineers sit in tenth place overall, boasting a win/loss record of just 9 – 20.
This total shake-up is rare in the Call of Duty League. In 2021, Dallas Empire and OpTic Chicago merged to form OpTic Texas, which really is one of the only examples of such a merger having taken place in what is the top flight of Call of Duty esports. There has been movement in other ways, though – last year, Paris Legion rebranded to become the Las Vegas Legion and Boston Breach was introduced to the League to fill the spot left vacant by the Dallas Empire.
Now, the Florida Mutineers will merge with Heretics to become the Miami Heretics, leaving just one state-named team in the League – OpTic Texas.
It Isn’t Over Yet
This merger is set to happen during the 2023 – 2024 season, so the Florida Mutineers will play out what’s left of the current season. There are wide expectations that the squad won’t make the Call of Duty League Championship, meaning that the team’s journey in the CDL will come to a crashing halt in a matter of weeks.
There are more changes set to take place across the League in the coming months, though. For instance, the Los Angeles Guerrillas could lose its spot and disappear into the vast abyss as the season comes to an end, with parent organisation, The Guard, making immense layoffs earlier this year. Not only that but Minnesota ROKKR could go the same way, with its parent company, Version1, expressing its desire to sell the brand or merge with another organisation.
Typically, the off-season in the Call of Duty League heats up with roster and organisation changes, and this year could be set to be the busiest period we’ve seen for years, in terms of moves.