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Overwatch esports: The growing popularity of Overwatch
Since its release in 2016, Overwatch Esports has quickly become one of the most popular video games in the world. This is especially true in the esports scene, where the game has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
One of the main reasons for the game growth is the unique gameplay of Overwatch.. Unlike many other first-person shooter games, Overwatch is categorized as a “hero shooter” rather than the traditional “multiplayer online battle arena.” With this distinction, players can choose from one of twenty-one distinct heroes who each have their own abilities and style of play. Despite the differences in each hero’s abilities and weapons, match outcomes are often determined by how well teams work together.
Another reason for Overwatch increasing popularity is its player base, which has surpassed 35 million players worldwide since the game’s release in 2016.* Overwatch Esports continues to grow in popularity despite being available on only two platforms, Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4.
Other Things You Should Know Regarding Overwatch Esports?
One of the most popular professional Overwatch Esports leagues is the Overwatch League (OWL). This league has twelve franchised teams that are based in major cities across the world, with the majority being located in North America. This brings a level of regional loyalty not seen in other esports leagues, which often consist of international teams.
The Overwatch League is currently sponsored by companies such as Intel, HP Envy, Toyota Motor North America, T-Mobile, and Sour Patch Kids. This sponsorship money has allowed the league to offer significant prize pools for its tournaments. The largest Overwatch Esports tournament to date, the OWL Grand Finals, offered a prize pool of $1.4 million.
The OWL is not the only major Overwatch tournament, however. There are many other large tournaments that take place throughout the year, with prize pools ranging from $10,000 to $1 million.
What are the most popular Overwatch Esports tournaments?
The OWL Grand Finals is the largest and most prestigious Overwatch tournament to date. This tournament was a two-day event that took place in July of 2018. The tournament featured twelve teams, with the final match being between the Philadelphia Fusion and the London Spitfire. The Fusion ended up taking first place, earning them $1 million as well as a championship trophy.
There are many other major Overwatch tournaments that take place throughout the year, such as those hosted by DreamHack and ELEAGUE. These tournaments typically offer much larger prize pools than those offered in smaller tournaments. For example, the DreamHack Atlanta tournament had a prize pool of $10,000, while the ELEAGUE Boston Major offered a prize pool of $1 million.
Why is the Overwatch League so popular?
The OWL is so popular because it offers something that other Overwatch esports leagues do not: regional loyalty. The majority of the teams in the OWL are located in North America, and this brings a level of regional pride not seen in other esports leagues. Fans of the OWL feel a sense of attachment to their local team, and they often cheer for them more than they do for international teams.
What factors might affect the viewership of professional Overwatch Esports tournaments?
One factor that may affect viewership is how many major teams participate in tournaments. League of Legends has the highest viewership, with an average of 70k+ viewers in their tournaments. Teams must apply to participate in League of Legends events. Though it is hard for teams to qualify, all major teams have been able to participate in LoL’s World Championships.
As well as Dota 2’s tournaments have an average of 20k-40k viewers, and teams may apply to participate in Dota 2 events. However, only the top teams are accepted into Major Tournaments, so viewership is low relative to League of Legends.
Overwatch Esport: Conclusion:
The result of Overwatch Esport’s inaugural season was exciting and fast-paced, with many series going all the way to a game 5. Most teams chose not to use any rotation or substitution during their games, meaning that some players were playing more than 65 minutes per match! The only significant roster change for all teams in Season 1 was the addition of iddqd to Fnatic, replacing Vonethil.
Teams that had a good off-season and during the early weeks of Season 1 were Rogue, NRG, and Fnatic. All three teams placed first in at least one online tournament leading up to Overwatch Open. After their success early on, they maintained these placings for the majority of Season 1. The same cannot be said for Ninjas in Pyjamas, Misfits, and Dignitas, who all had a strong showing early on but were unable to follow that performance through into Week 4. In general, if you have left any queries regarding the above context, just share with us through a comment below.
