Call of Duty League Deal Could Spark Dallas Empire, OpTic Gaming Merger

Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez is currently in talks with Envy Gaming and NRG Esports over a “multi-pronged deal” within the Call of Duty League (CDL).

Speculation around the deal originally broke via Dot Esports through unnamed sources “familiar with those discussions.” According to said sources, the deal stems from H3CZ’s yearlong struggle to break from NRG—initiated this time last year. Now, it appears that a new avenue has emerged.

CDL Deal Looks to Merge Dallas Empire, Chicago OpTic

Should the deal go through, Envy’s Empire will retire its branding and take on the OpTic name with the two teams merging to takeover the Texas slot, together. H3CZ would be at its head alongside Envy’s own Mike “Hastr0” Rufail. The Chicago team slot would then be up for grabs completely free of OpTic’s influence. This will be the team’s third city in as many seasons.

H3CZ originally built the Chicago team—the Chicago Huntsmen—when OpTic Gaming was still under the ownership of Immortals Gaming Club. OpTic was then sold in its entirety to NRG following Immortals additional sale of the Los Angeles slot to 100 Thieves. This, of course, resulted in the birth of the LA Thieves.

H3CZ and NRG would be at odds the following year with H3CZ seeking to leave the owner altogether.

However, it appears this deal maybe the resolution the two have been seeking. Both OpTic and Empire have cleaned their active roster—possibly in preparation for the merger. OpTic has since released Envoy and seen the retirement of FormaL. Empire removed Crimsix and Vivid from its active roster.

DBLTAP cannot confirm the status of these discussions or a potential date for the brands to merge.