Daniel Tsay, General Manager of Call of Duty Esports at Activision, has officially announced that he is stepping down from his position.
Tsay was responsible for overseeing the competitive esports programmes for Call of Duty, including the Call of Duty League (CDL) and Call of Duty: Warzone esports. He joined Activision around March 2021 and served in the role for over five years, with his departure announced on October 14, 2026.
As of the latest available information, neither Activision nor Tsay has provided further details about his departure, and the company has not announced a replacement.
Before joining Activision, Tsay held several positions in professional sports and finance. From approximately January 2018 to March 2021, he served as Associate Vice President of the NBA 2K League, the professional esports competition based on the NBA 2K basketball video game series. Before that, he worked as Senior Manager of Global Strategy at the National Basketball Association (NBA) from around July 2016 to December 2017.
His experience across traditional sports and esports preceded his move to Activision, where he took responsibility for the direction of two major competitive programmes within the Call of Duty franchise. During Tsay’s time as General Manager, the Call of Duty League underwent several changes to its business model and competition format. These included the removal of outstanding entry fees owed by teams and an increase in the share of revenue teams received from in-game merchandise sales. In simple terms, these changes reduced some of the financial burden on participating organisations and allowed them to receive a larger portion of money generated through certain in-game purchases.
The league also held international Majors, giving teams opportunities to compete at prominent events outside their usual regional settings. Some seasons recorded significant viewership milestones, while the league continued to adjust how its competitions were organised. Meanwhile, Warzone esports continued to evolve, with changes to its competitive offerings and the ways players and teams could take part in tournaments.
Tsay’s announcement came shortly after Activision officially revealed the complete operational structure and calendar for the Call of Duty League’s 2027 season. The timing also follows a significant development in Warzone esports. In recent days, G2 Esports announced that it was shutting down its Warzone operations, despite its roster winning one of the biggest esports tournaments of the year, the Esports World Cup 2026.
On G2’s departure, Team Vitality‘s Call of Duty: Warzone head coach Ethan “Ebatez” Bates argued that the game needs a formal revenue-sharing programme for esports organisations. Such a programme that would allow teams to receive a more reliable share of revenue connected to the competitive scene, helping them cover operating costs and maintain their rosters over time.
