Another new organization is reportedly attempting to acquire a franchise slot in the Call of Duty League—and it could be looking to make an immediate splash by targeting some big-name players for its 2025 roster.
Gentle Mates, an esports organization owned in part by former French CoD pro Gotaga, is working on a deal to obtain the CDL spot owned by the Los Angeles Guerrillas, according to a report by Dexerto’s Jacob Hale. Hale also reports Gentle Mates is attempting to sign some superstar players in Scrap and HyDra, who have already been linked to reports on Los Angeles Thieves’ roster plans ahead of the 2025 season.
The news that the Los Angeles Guerrillas could be exiting the CDL shouldn’t be surprising to most competitive CoD fans. Reports in August suggested notable esports organizations like Fnatic and Gen.G might try to join the CDL. Coupled with reports last year of LAG’s ownership group looking to sell its spot and mass layoffs, it’s seemed like the franchise has been heading in this direction for a while now.
Gentle Mates reportedly targeting HyDra and Scrap for its initial CDL roster, if it acquires the LAG franchise slot, throws a massive wrench into the 2025 rostermania period. With Gentle Mates and the Los Angeles Thieves seemingly both interested in signing these star players, a lot of other moves could hinge on where HyDra and Scrap end up, making them the biggest dominoes that will need to fall to set the rest of the offseason in motion.
Competitive CoD fans got to see Gentle Mates in action at the Esports World Cup in August as one of the amateur teams battling against CDL squads to end the MW3 season. Gentle Mates earned a top-12 placing with a roster featuring European legend Bance, Cobra, Denza, and Harry. It’s unclear at this time if any of those players could also be in Gentle Mates’ roster plans if the reported acquisition of LAG’s franchise spot is finalized.
With multiple reports circulating this week on potential roster moves, it should be more clear than ever the offseason is heating up ahead of professional Black Ops 6 play. CDL fans will have to wait with anticipation to see where some of the league’s biggest names will be playing—and if any other new organizations replace existing franchises ahead of the 2025 season.