Blizzard Entertainment and ESL FACEIT Group have recently announced a groundbreaking multi-year agreement to usher in a new era of Overwatch® 2 esports through the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS). This partnership signifies a significant shift in the esports landscape for Blizzard’s popular first-person shooter game. The OWCS aims to create an open, inclusive, and sustainable competitive community for players across North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa (EMEA), and Asia.
The Overwatch Champions Series introduces a unique approach to esports by offering an open and always-on international competition circuit. This structure is designed to provide more opportunities for players to turn professional and engage in high-level competition. The series will be operated by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) in EMEA and North America, with the Asia OWCS circuit managed by WDG, a leading esports tournament organizer based in Korea.
A highlight of the OWCS will be two live in-person international events, aiming to bring together players and fans globally. These events include the DreamHack Dallas Major and the World Finals at DreamHack Stockholm. The DreamHack Dallas Major, scheduled from May 31 to June 2, 2024, is a double-elimination tournament featuring eight top teams from around the world. The World Finals, set for November 22-24 in Sweden, will be the first live Tier 1 Overwatch competition in Europe in more than five years, featuring eight teams vying for the inaugural OWCS championship title.
In addition to these major events, FACEIT, the world’s leading platform for competitive gaming, will play a crucial role in providing an open infrastructure for all amateur and pro players in the Overwatch 2 community. FACEIT’s involvement is expected to offer a rich and consistent schedule of events and content, creating a clear path for players aspiring to compete in the OWCS. This setup will also support tournament organizers and community leaders in producing third-party competitions and community experiences.
This multi-year exclusive deal between Blizzard Entertainment and ESL FACEIT Group marks a significant development in the esports industry, promising to bring a new level of engagement and excitement to the Overwatch 2 esports scene.
