A new chapter has begun for Toronto’s Call of Duty franchise. After five seasons competing as Toronto Ultra, the organisation has officially rebranded to Toronto KOI, marking a major identity shift and aligning with the Spanish esports brand KOI.

A new era in Toronto has started. We are Toronto KOI 💜#TKOIWIN | #GoTKOI pic.twitter.com/YoG3ZHwXVX

— Toronto KOI (@TorontoKOI) October 23, 2025

A Unified Global Identity

OverActive Media, the organisation behind the franchise, announced the rebrand as part of its strategy to align all its teams under a single global platform. KOI is already a recognised name in esports, co-owned by popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos and former professional footballer Gerard Piqué. The brand currently competes in League of Legends and other titles under the Movistar KOI banner.

Now, that identity will extend to North America through Toronto KOI, connecting the team to a wider international fan base and reinforcing OverActive Media’s global ambitions.

“To be KOI is to belong,” said Adam Adamou, CEO of OverActive Media. “Bringing this illustrious brand to the Call of Duty League and to Toronto will benefit everyone, our fans, our players, our partners, and the broader esports ecosystem. We’re building a single, unified brand platform that scales across regions and delivers lasting value for all.”

A Fresh Look for the 2026 CDL Season

The rebrand was officially celebrated on October 23rd, 2025, with a launch event that unveiled Toronto KOI’s new logo, colours, and 2026 season jersey. The team’s first merchandise collection is also set to drop in December 2025, giving fans their first chance to wear the purple and white of KOI.

The change marks a significant moment for the Call of Duty League (CDL). When the 2026 season kicks off alongside Black Ops 7, it will be the first time none of the original franchise names from the inaugural 2020 season remain.

Global Trends and Growing Ambitions

Toronto KOI’s transformation reflects a larger shift within the esports industry. Organisations are increasingly merging brands across regions and titles to create stronger, more recognisable global identities.

Earlier this year, Team Falcons relocated from Las Vegas to Riyadh, and G2 Esports rebranded its Minnesota Rokkr team to G2 Minnesota. Meanwhile, Gentle Mates has hinted at a relocation after quietly dropping “Los Angeles” from its social media handles.

This wave of changes shows how the CDL continues to evolve, with teams repositioning to tap into broader audiences and long-term sustainability.

A New Era for Toronto

For Toronto fans, the switch to KOI brings a mix of nostalgia and excitement. While Ultra had built a strong legacy as one of the league’s most consistent teams, KOI brings a new spark, a symbol of unity between North American and European esports communities.

With an experienced roster, a bold new identity, and the momentum of a fresh start, Toronto KOI heads into the Black Ops 7 season ready to make waves on a global stage.

The post Toronto Ultra Rebrands to Toronto KOI Ahead of Black Ops 7 Season appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Driving the Next Phase of Expansion

OverActive Media, the parent company of KOI and Toronto Ultra, has announced a C$1 million debt financing to accelerate the growth of its AI-powered global content localisation platform, ActiveVoices. The loan will be provided by an entity controlled by Sheldon Pollack, Chairman of OverActive’s board of directors.

According to the company’s official statement, OverActive will issue a secured promissory note with a six-month term and a 12% annual interest rate. In addition, the lender will receive 330,000 common share purchase warrants, each with an exercise price of C$0.30 and a one-year term.

The proceeds from the loan are intended for general working capital and to fuel ActiveVoices’ expansion. The transaction remains subject to definitive agreements and approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV).

Paving the Way for ActiveVoices

CEO Adam Adamou expressed confidence in the company’s direction, saying the financing offers the flexibility to pursue growth opportunities while maintaining a disciplined approach to profitability.

“We see an extraordinary window of opportunity to scale ActiveVoices into a global technology platform serving creators, brands, and media partners,” said Adamou. “This financing gives us the flexibility to aggressively pursue that growth engine while continuing to execute on our disciplined path to profitability.”

First revealed in August 2025 at the China Esports Conference in Shanghai, ActiveVoices is designed as a SaaS platform that supports ethical and scalable content distribution. It offers services such as AI-assisted translation, dubbing, and multi-platform publishing for creators and esports organisations worldwide.

About OverActive Media

Founded in 2018, OverActive Media Corp. (TSXV: OAM) (OTCQB: OAMCF) is a global esports, digital media, and entertainment company with operations in Toronto, Madrid, and Berlin. The organisation owns professional esports teams competing in some of the world’s biggest leagues, including Movistar KOI and Toronto Ultra.

KOI, co-owned by Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos and footballer Gerard Piqué, is best known for its VALORANT and League of Legends rosters, though the organisation recently lost its partner team spot in the VCT EMEA. Meanwhile, Toronto Ultra continues to represent Canada in the Call of Duty League (CDL).

OverActive’s latest financial move underscores its ongoing transition from a pure esports organisation to a diversified digital media company, leveraging both its competitive gaming presence and emerging technologies like ActiveVoices.

Focus on Profitability and Innovation

The company says this short-term financing supports its path to profitability, balancing its esports operations with investments in content technology and fan engagement tools.

Adamou reiterated OverActive’s broader strategy: “Our focus remains on building a profitable, asset-backed digital media company that captures the full potential of our franchises, our fanbase and proprietary technology.”

With the additional funding, OverActive Media appears well-positioned to continue expanding ActiveVoices into a leading global localisation platform—and to strengthen its role as one of the most forward-thinking companies in the esports media landscape.

The post OverActive Media Secures C$1 Million Debt Financing to Boost ActiveVoices Growth appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Toronto Ultra have officially lifted the curtain on their roster for the 2026 Call of Duty League (CDL) season, and it’s a mix of familiar faces and one fiery new addition ready to make a mark.

All good things must come to an end…but we’re not done yet 😮‍💨

Introducing your Toronto Ultra roster for 2026 🙌
🟣 @JoeDeceives
🟣 @CleanX
🟣 @ReeaLJM
🟣 @InsightGawd pic.twitter.com/MhDJYp6JyS

— Toronto Ultra (@TorontoUltra) October 8, 2025

The team’s reveal video, shared across social media on October 9, showcased the line-up of Joseph “JoeDeceives” Romero, Tobias “CleanX” Juul Jønsson, Jamie “Insight” Craven, and newcomer José “ReeaL” Manuel Fernández. Fans and fellow pros flooded the announcement with excitement, with replies filled with purple hearts and words of encouragement like “Congrats beasts 💜” and “Can’t wait for this year man 👀🫶.”

Familiar Core, New Firepower

Three of the four players, JoeDeceives, CleanX, and Insight, return after representing Toronto through the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 season. Their consistency has been one of the team’s biggest strengths, and that foundation now gets a boost with the addition of ReeaL, formerly of Miami Heretics.

The Spaniard’s move to Ultra came amid some off-season tension. Miami Heretics alleged that ReeaL had broken a verbal agreement to play for them in Black Ops 7. However, both the player and his agency denied any wrongdoing, and he now joins Ultra looking to make a statement on the CDL stage.

The Return of Insight

Insight’s inclusion is another major talking point. After declaring unrestricted free agency in August 2025, many fans wondered if he’d continue with Toronto. Those questions were put to rest on October 8 when Ultra officially confirmed his return.

Alongside CleanX, Insight forms one of the most established duos in Call of Duty history. The pair have competed together under the Ultra banner since October 2020, building one of the most consistent partnerships in the League.

For CleanX, 2026 will be his seventh straight year donning Toronto’s purple, having joined shortly after the franchise’s formation in 2019 under OverActive Media. His longevity and leadership continue to be the backbone of Ultra’s identity.

Building on 2025’s Momentum

During the Black Ops 6 season, Toronto Ultra were one of the most consistent teams on the CDL circuit. With top-three finishes at Major 2 and Major 3, plus respectable top-six placements at Major 1 and Major 4, the squad comfortably earned their spot at the 2025 CDL Championship.

Despite a strong start at Champs, including a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Royal Ravens, back-to-back losses to OpTic Texas and Vancouver Surge saw them exit in sixth place. Still, the team proved they could compete with the best, and with ReeaL’s addition, fans are expecting Toronto to push even harder for a title in Black Ops 7.

This announcement also comes just days after the organisation’s recent collaboration with Monster Gaming for the Toronto Ultra Hot Drop Warzone tournament, a $25,000 event that showcased the team’s growing influence across the Call of Duty esports ecosystem.

Heading into the 2026 season, Ultra’s line-up blends chemistry, experience, and a renewed hunger to win. With their roster now locked in, the countdown to CDL’s December return is officially on.

The post Toronto Ultra Reveal 2026 Call of Duty League Roster appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Toronto Ultra is turning up the heat once again. The Call of Duty League franchise has officially announced the return of its Hot Drop Warzone tournament, featuring a $25,000 prize pool and support from Monster Gaming.

The second annual Toronto Ultra Hot Drop kicks off on October 7th, 2025, marking the first major Call of Duty: Warzone competition since the World Series of Warzone Global Final earlier this year.

Is it hot in here or is it just us? 🔥

We’re partnering with @TorontoUltra for the second year in a row to bring you the Toronto Ultra Hot Drop, kicking off tomorrow at 5PM EST/2PM PST!

Be sure to tune in to catch all the action! pic.twitter.com/8CrDXgmX0D

— Monster Gaming (@MonsterGaming) October 6, 2025

Big Names, Big Prizes

Teams will compete in trios on Verdansk for their share of the $25,000 (~NZ$42,000) prize pool, with the champions pocketing $10,000 (~NZ$17,000). Scoring will follow a familiar format, with one point per elimination and a multiplier based on placement:

• 1st: 2x
• 2nd–5th: 1.8x
• 6th–10th: 1.4x
• 11th–20th: 1.4x
• 21st–30th: 1.2x
• 31st and below: 1x

Like last year, the Hot Drop will use the match point system. That means once a team reaches the target score, they’ll need to win the next match to seal the championship.

This year, Shifty returns to defend his title with a new trio: Riley “zSmit” Smith and Logan “Skullface” Greifelt. With Biffle retiring from competition, all eyes will be on this fresh lineup to see if lightning can strike twice.

The State of Warzone Esports

While Activision has yet to confirm whether the World Series of Warzone circuit will return in 2026, third-party organisers like Toronto Ultra are keeping the competitive scene alive. Recent months have seen new organisations like Gen.G entering the Warzone space, showing there’s still plenty of momentum for community-driven events.

This grassroots energy mirrors the renewed excitement seen in other FPS scenes, such as Counter-Strike, where streamer Erik “fl0m” Flom recently announced his own community-driven LAN, the $30,000 Mythical LAN in Las Vegas.

With Monster Gaming’s backing and a prize pool that guarantees high-stakes action, the Toronto Ultra Hot Drop looks set to be one of Warzone’s biggest post-season showdowns yet. Fans can tune in when the competition goes live on October 7th at 5PM EST (2PM PST) to catch all the chaos unfold.

The post Toronto Ultra and Monster Gaming Team Up for $25,000 Warzone Hot Drop appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

British Call of Duty pro Charlie “Hicksy” Hicks has officially hung up the controller, closing the chapter on a career that took him from grinding in Challengers to lifting a trophy on the biggest stage.

Lived it. Loved it.
Farewell beautiful game.

In all seriousness, i think it’s time for me to step away from playing Call of Duty. It was a dream of mine growing up to be able to compete against the players i watched every single day, but i never truly believed i would make it,… pic.twitter.com/DR0vGMUjaO

— Hicksy (@Hiicksy_) August 7, 2025

For Hicksy, those achievements were far from ordinary. He became the first player since Scump and Bobby in Black Ops 1 to win his very first pro LAN, took home the sixth-highest rookie season placement average in CDL history, and reached the Grand Finals in his debut Champs, joining an elite list of just five players to ever do so.

Hicksy has officially announced his retirement from competitive Call of Duty.

– First player since Scump & Bobby in BO1 to win his first pro LAN.
– 6th highest average placement in a rookie season ever (3.25)
– 1 of 5 players in CDL history to make the Grand Finals of his debut… https://t.co/HJtfG059Dt

— Brian (@BrianStats1) August 7, 2025

From Challengers to Champs

Hicksy’s journey was anything but smooth. He spent over seven years grinding the Call of Duty Challengers circuit before finally breaking into the CDL in 2022 with Toronto Ultra. Starting out as a sub for Ultra Academy NA, he soon earned a spot on the main roster, and wasted no time making history, winning CDL Major 3 in 2023.

5 LANs
5 Finals
3 🏆🏆🏆 https://t.co/0LSIo6Ti6m

— Hicksy (@Hiicksy_) March 14, 2023

That same season, he helped Ultra reach the CDL Championship Grand Final, ultimately finishing runners-up to the NY Subliners. The second-place finish came with a hefty $660,000 prize, the biggest payday of his career.

But the CDL can be unforgiving. Just days after that high point, Ultra chose not to extend his contract. Hicksy wouldn’t return to the League until 2025, briefly playing with Vancouver Surge before being replaced early in the season. His last competitive appearance came with FiveFears at the Esports World Cup, where they placed 5–8th.

A respected teammate, a lasting legacy

The news of his retirement sparked tributes from across the scene. Fellow Brit Ben “Beans” McMellon shared a LAN photo of the two, while Byron “Nastie” Plumridge and former teammate Scrap offered their own words of support. Toronto Ultra also wished their former player well, thanking him for his time with the team.

We wish you nothing but the best in whatever you do next Chaz 💜 pic.twitter.com/jQzPTFFySD

— Toronto Ultra (@TorontoUltra) August 7, 2025

In his farewell, Hicksy made it clear that while stepping away wasn’t easy, it’s far from the end of his story.

“Although I’m filled with sadness that it’s over, I keep reminding myself that as one door closes, another opens, and I’m looking forward to whatever is next for me.”

Whatever that next chapter is, the Call of Duty community will remember Hicksy not just for his wins, but for the passion, resilience, and friendships he built along the way.

The post Hicksy Retires from Competitive Call of Duty: “Lived it. Loved it.” appeared first on Shane the Gamer.