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Blizzard partners with ESL for an open Overwatch 2 esports circuit
After the death of the Overwatch League, Overwatch esports will have a more open format starting in 2024. Teams from North America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia can compete to take part in two global Overwatch Champions Series tournaments.
The Overwatch League appears to be over
The Overwatch League seems to be no more. "We are transitioning from the Overwatch League and evolving competitive Overwatch in a new direction," a Blizzard spokesperson told Engadget.
Activision Blizzard lays off around 50 esports staff amid a potential Overwatch League overhaul
Activision Blizzard has laid off around 50 employees from its esports division. The company is also preparing for some potentially huge changes to the Overwatch League, which spell an end for its city-based franchise format.
Overwatch League's 2022 season will start on an early build of 'Overwatch 2'
There's still no official release window for the sequel, though.
DOJ investigates Overwatch League over salary caps
The DOJ is investigating the Overwatch League over soft salary caps meant to balance team pay.
'Valorant' pro Sinatraa has been suspended amid sexual assault allegations
Riot and Sentinels are investigating following accusations from the player's ex-girlfriend.
Overwatch League's online-only playoffs start on September 3rd
Overwatch League's 2020 playoffs will start on September 3rd with two sets of regional tournaments.
Overwatch League re-focuses around a tournament format
On Monday, Blizzard shared details on how Overwatch League's upcoming Summer Showdown tournament will play out, along with new tweaks to the controversial Hero Pools.
Overwatch League viewership doubled under its tournament format
The league saw its highest average viewership since the second week of the season.
The reigning Overwatch League MVP is switching to 'Valorant'
Jay 'Sinatraa' Won was the top Overwatch League player last season, but now he's leaving the game and switching to 'Valorant.'
Overwatch League tries to boost interest with May Madness tournament
Teams will battle in two regional tournaments for prize money and bonus wins towards their season records.
The entire Overwatch League regular season will be online-only
The Overwatch League has canceled all of its live events for the remainder of the 2020 regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Matches will take place in an entirely online format until August at the very least.
Overwatch League sets its new online-only schedule for spring
After three sets of Overwatch League cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak, Blizzard is trying to make the best of a bad situation. The company has released the updated Overwatch League March and April schedule. And as you can imagine, it eliminates the need for teams to travel.
Overwatch League cancels all homestand matches through April
Activision Blizzard has cancelled some Overwatch League matches before in response to the coronavirus outbreak, but now it's taking no chances. The league has cancelled all Overwatch League homestand games for March and April. The cancellations won't affect other league events, but there's no question this will be disruptive to the Overwatch esports scene.
Overwatch League cancels South Korean matches due to coronavirus
A week-and-a-half after it said it would host a slate of cancelled Overwatch League matches in Seoul, South Korea, Blizzard is now postponing those games as well. The move comes after a surge in Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the East Asian country. Like the matches the company had planned to host in Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai, Blizzard says it's delaying the rescheduled games to "protect the health and safety of our players, fans and staff."
Overwatch League moves matches to South Korea after coronavirus outbreak
The current coronavirus outbreak (aka COVID-19) is affecting the esports world as much as other industries. The Overwatch League is moving cancelled homestand matches at Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai to Seoul, South Korea during weeks 6 and 7 of the competition, with some possibly being attached to Seoul Dynasty's home event in week 5. The league had scrubbed its February and March matches in China to "protect the health and safety" of fans, competitors and organizers.
YouTube will stream the CoD and Overwatch leagues in 2020
Activision Blizzard's next big esports bet, Call of Duty League, gets underway today. While the company worked with Twitch in the past on Overwatch League, that's not where you'll be able to watch its latest foray into top-level competitive gaming. YouTube will be Activision Blizzard's exclusive worldwide streaming partner (except for China) for both leagues this year, along with Hearthstone events and other esports endeavors.
Overwatch League's latest big change is great for viewers
Picture this: FIFA decides to bring in a rule that changes how every team, from World Cup squads to US Youth Soccer National League orgs, plays. They're forced to field two strikers, four midfielders and four defenders at all times, even though many top teams prefer to have more midfielders supporting one main attacker.
Blizzard reveals Overwatch League details for 2020
Overwatch League fans who might have been hoping for a traditional home and away format similar to other sports, in which teams play half their games at their own venues, might be left disappointed at least for the 2020 season. Blizzard has revealed the league format for next year, in which regular-season matches will take place in teams' home bases.
Overwatch League commissioner leaves to head competitive 'Fortnite'
If it wasn't already apparent that Epic Games is serious about competitive Fortnite, it is now. The company has confirmed that it hired Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer (shown at middle) to oversee Fortnite esports at Epic. The chief of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues, Pete Vlastelica, is filling Nanzer's shoes at Overwatch League "effective immediately."
