The esports industry has grown fast. Competitive video games are always looking for ways to build longevity and player loyalty. One such game is Blizzard’s first-person hero shooter, Overwatch. After the lukewarm reception to the official sequel in 2023, the developers worked hard to release updates and patches to improve the game for players and pro esports athletes.
A recent Halloween-themed Overwatch 2 update brought in 15% of the game’s daily player base two weeks after the update dropped. The update was a small balance patch and a seasonal game mode. Catering to player demand helps the Overwatch esports scene, which is part of the esports tourism.
Riding the momentum of Overwatch 2, Blizzard’s rebranded esports scene can create opportunities for local communities, players and viewers. In this post we’ll take a look at the Overwatch esports scene and how it’s helped the game expand globally through esports tourism:
Overwatch and esports
A huge part of Overwatch's player base is avid fans of the game's esports scene. At the peak of the original Overwatch game's popularity, the title's esports scene was often compared to that of Counter-Strike's due to the two games being in the first-person shooter genre.
Overwatch’s esports community also grew in popularity as the global esports market did. According to our Esports Market Analysis findings, the global esports market was at $2.88 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $10.94 billion by 2031. This is due to the growing popularity of video games and esports competitions.
Today, Overwatch gets millions of concurrent views across its esports events. Fans also love to attend the esports tournaments in person which creates various esports tourism opportunities around the world.
Esports enthusiasts also love to bet on events and matches. Overwatch fans like to bet to test their in-game skills and make extra income. Using the reputable crypto betting platform Thunderpick fans can find various Overwatch betting odds across different tournaments. This includes matchups between official Overwatch League teams and offseason and third-party events. Beyond conventional betting Thunderpick also offers exclusive platform benefits like First Deposit bonus for new users and Monthly Gift Cards for active and loyal users.
To fans’ surprise, the official Overwatch League stopped just before the release of the sequel in 2023. Blizzard has since announced the League's return and rebrand. Today, the league is known as the Overwatch Champions Series. This paves the way for new initiatives and partnerships. Meanwhile, it also helps expand the esports scene to new regions.
Overwatch at the Esports World Cup
Overwatch recently participated in the first ever Esports World Cup. Saudi Arabia hosted the event, strengthening Blizzard's investment in esports tourism. The game was announced to be part of the 22 games featured in the Esports World Cup as part of the initiative to build Saudi Arabia's esports economy. Coverage of the game at the global event included English-speaking broadcasts with a peak viewership of 68,900. The Overwatch segment of the Esports World Cup was also broadcast in Arabic (19,997), Spanish (14,378), Japanese (11,492), and Portuguese (9,017). Incidentally, Japanese organization Crazy Raccoon won against Toronto Ultra in the Grand Final.
Overwatch's participation at the Esports World Cup is part of Blizzard's initiative to breathe new life into the game's esports scene. Thanks to the multi-language broadcasts covering the event, new and old Overwatch fans worldwide can access the event and show support for their favorite Overwatch teams and players.
Regional expansion of the Overwatch League
In the lead-up to the newly rebranded Overwatch Champion Series, Blizzard also moved to open up the Overwatch League to teams across new regions. The East Region, for example, welcomed Overwatch League teams from a "more open ecosystem" featuring Overwatch Contenders and Open Division teams. This league structure was facilitated through regional competitions in South Korea, Asia Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand.
Blizzard ensures that fans and players of the game can participate in the thriving Overwatch esports scene, regardless of where they are globally, thanks to the regional expansion of the League. Along with the game's participation in the recent Esports World Cup, paying attention to the less-dominant regions in the Overwatch League can also welcome new talent and fans that can keep the Overwatch esports scene fresh.
A rebranded Overwatch esports league
Finally, as mentioned above, the Overwatch League has also recently rebranded into the Overwatch Champions Series recently. Partnered with major esports company ESL FACEIT Group, Blizzard recently announced that the Overwatch Champions Series' finale for the year is set to be held at DreamHack Stockholm. The finale will culminate the best Overwatch talent in the world and be the first major finals since Blizzard relaunched the Overwatch esports ecosystem. The World Finals will be the first major in-person European Overwatch tournament in years. The previous DreamHack Dallas broke records with 55,000 attendees, including a sellout crowd for the Champions Series Major.
The new Overwatch Champions Series' finals raise the question of whether or not the Overwatch World Cup will return in the future. The last Overwatch World Cup in 2023 took place in Anaheim, California, with a $374,608 prize pool up for grabs. As esports tourism continues to thrive, Blizzard Entertainment's commitment to boosting Overwatch's worldwide presence can help create more opportunities for local communities, players, and fans to embark on esports tourism opportunities.
