Overwatch Champions Series
Game | Overwatch 2 |
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Founded | 2024 |
Owner(s) | Blizzard Entertainment |
Administrator |
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Region |
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Official website | esports |
The Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) is a global competitive esports tournament series for the video game Overwatch 2, owned by Blizzard Entertainment. The circuit is divided into three regions: North America, EMEA, and Asia. The North America and EMEA regions are operated by ESL FaceIt Group, while Asia is by operated by Korean esports tournament organizer WDG.
History
The Overwatch Champions series (OWCS) was established in January 2024 following the folding of Overwatch League. Unlike the previous approach of independently managing the league,
2024 season
Format
The OWCS follows an
The Asia region has two competitive stages and is further divided into three subregions: South Korea, Japan, and Pacific. Stage 1 begins with each subregion hosting its respective Open Qualifiers, which then feed into Regional Tournaments. From there, the top teams from each region advance to the OWCS Asia Championship, an eight-team event held at the WDG Esports Studio. Qualification from this championship secures slots in the Dallas Major at DreamHack. Stage 2 mirrors Stage 1's format, with top performers advancing to the Stockholm Finals.[5]
For North America and EMEA, the OWCS consists of four stages. Each stage comprises three phases: Swiss, Groups, and the Main Event. The Swiss phase accommodates up to 512 teams, with the top 16 proceeding to the Group stage. From there, teams compete in groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the Main Event – an eight-team, double-elimination tournament. Circuit points are awarded to top finishers in the Main Event, determining qualification for international tournaments. Stages 1 and 2 lead into the Dallas Major, while Stages 3 and 4 lead into the Stockholm Finals.[5]
Broadcast
For the 2024 season, OWCS matches are broadcast across various platforms. In North America and Europe, matches are broadcast on YouTube and Twitch. In Asia, the broadcast is available on platforms such as YouTube, CHZZK, AfreecaTV (Korean), and Twitch (WDG and PlayOverwatchJP for Japanese audiences). Viewers can earn exclusive in-game rewards, such as OWCS-themed cosmetics, through Twitch Drops during official match streams.[6]
References
- ^ a b Lichene, Riccardo (May 10, 2024). "Opening up an esport: Overwatch's resurgence after the Overwatch League closure". Esports Insider. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ Fragen, Jordan (January 23, 2024). "ESL Faceit, Blizzard ally for the next chapter of Overwatch esports". VentureBeat. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Parrish, Ash (January 23, 2024). "Overwatch esports will live on as the Overwatch Champions Series". The Verge. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Future of Overwatch Esports". Blizzard Entertainment. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- Esports Illustrated. Retrieved April 23, 2024.