Overwatch Esports returns in 2024 with Champions Series and much more
After a difficult 2023 that saw the Overwatch League close down, Blizzard Entertainment has worked to keep the game's competitive scene alive. To that effect, it announced the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) on January 23, a new look to its esports segment.
The developer noted that its 'esports efforts in 2024 will be multifaceted' and this brand new series will be its premiere international competitive circuit open to players across North America (NA), Europe, Middle East, and North Africa (EMEA), and South Korea, Japan and Pacific (Asia).
The upcoming season will also have numerous competitive stages, with each region having its own set of Open Qualifiers where players can form teams and duke it out for a place in the Main Event. These stages will 'culminate in two live, in-person international competitions, bringing the regions together for the pinnacle of Overwatch play on the largest stage ever for the discipline's esports.'
Regarding NA and EMEA, the organizer has partnered with the renowned esports platform FACEIT to hold all events in this region using open and sustainable infrastructure. Teams will go through four competitive stages and two international OWCS events across the year, each featuring an online Open Qualifier and Main Event.
Players can earn circuit points — used to determine international events qualification — from here. They can acquire these points through high placements in each stage, and the more points a side makes, the higher its standing on the leaderboards and seeds going into each event.
Moreover, OWCS Stages in NA & EMEA will have three unique tournament phases — Swiss, Groups, and the Main Event. The Open Qualifier will house the Swiss and Group phases, from where teams can qualify for the Main Event.
The Swiss phase will host 512 sides at the maximum, of which 16 will qualify for the Groups. They will then compete in groups of four, with the top two from each pool advancing to the Main Event in an eight-team double-elimination regional tournament.
The Asia region will differ from NA and EMEA as it will host three regional subdivisions — South Korea, Japan, and the Pacific. They will witness multiple tournaments with formats tailored for local audiences and with the direct purpose of seeing sides progress to the OWCS.
Teams will participate in two competitive stages throughout the year, with each one concluding in an international OWCS event. WDG, a company that makes content for esports competitions, will operate each competitive stage.
Additionally, each subdivision will feature its own Open Qualifiers that lead to Regional Tournaments, which will then determine the best teams from each subdivision to advance to the two OWCS Asia Championship competitions across 2024. Asian Overwatch fans can watch these two events in person at the WDG Esports Studio in South Korea as their favorite sides battle for spots at the global tournament.
DreamHack and other Overwatch esports programs
Blizzard Entertainment also disclosed that it has partnered with DreamHack to conduct two competitions at this competitive gaming festival. Among these live international tournaments, one will be in the summer during the middle of the Overwatch season and the other in the fall — the Season Finals of the 2024 season.
The OWCS Major — the first international event — will be held at DreamHack Dallas from May 31 to June 2, while the Season Finals will bring live Overwatch esports to Europe, a long-standing request of fans. Hence, the top sides from each major region will converge at DreamHack Stockholm later this year to battle for the crown of first-ever OWCS champion.
Moreover, the North American and EMEA regions will have many other ways for fans and players to engage with Overwatch esports through FACEIT. Readers interested in knowing more can stay tuned to Esports Charts, as we will cover future announcements regarding the full slate of programming in these regions, including viewership statistics that can be viewed with our PRO subscription.
ANZ Players will be eligible to participate in OWCS under our non-residency rules and we are working with EFG to support some additional programming to regions not directly supported by a dedicated OWCS region. We're not able to share more today just yet - but hoping to bring you…
— Bailey (@PizzaPenguin_) January 23, 2024
In Asia, further programming supported by WDG Esports includes the WDG Cup, a unique knockout competition open to all teams from this region that will run during the offseason. Additionally, the WDG Scholastic Tournament for college, high school, and middle-school students will occur four times annually, ensuring they have regular opportunities to compete and enhance their skills.
The 2024 season has almost signaled a rebirth of the Overwatch competitive scene. The first OWCS Open Qualifiers will kick off in NA and EMEA in March, while the Open Qualifiers for the Asia region will begin in February. We will keep you updated with these competitions and bring you more details and specific dates for the kickoff of the OWCS and FACEIT's programming as they are made available by the officials.
Detailed Esports data at your fingertips.
Subscribe to & start exploring!
