What do we use cookies for?
We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.
New e-sports league set for launch in Asia and America
Global – Due to start later this year, the Overwatch League will mimic the structure of traditional sporting leagues.
With teams already announced in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami-Orlando, New York, San Francisco, Seoul and Shanghai, matches in the first season will be played every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at an e-sports arena in Los Angeles before expanding to venues around the world to create a formal home and away set-up.
‘We are building this league for fans – e-sports fans, traditional sports fans and gaming fans – and we’re thrilled to have individuals and organisations who are as passionate about professional competition as we are,’ says Bobby Kotick, CEO of video games company Activision Blizzard.
The game, Overwatch, is part of Blizzard Entertainment's portfolio of games including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, StarCraft and Heroes of the Storm, and has already connected more than 30m players. In an unprecedented move, teams participating in the league will be allowed to keep all venue revenue up to a set amount, making it a lucrative prospect for players and investors.
The Big Picture
- Gaming is no longer a niche past-time associated with the socially reclusive, but a rapidly growing and extremely lucrative sector. For more, see our Insight report
- LS:N Global has tracked this move into the mainstream arena since 2016, noting the growing potential for advertisers in this virtual space. For more, see our Video Games Market report
Most Recent
1
The future of fashion is... farming?:
Allbirds’ head of sustainability, Hana Kajimura, says it’s time for the...
2
It’s time for sustainability to get spiritual:
CogDis is an ethical consultancy with spirituality and imperfection at its...
3
Rebranding Ready-to-drink:
As ready-to-drink emerges as one of the fastest-growing drink sectors, the...
4
Athletic Tourism Market:
Combatting sedentary lifestyles, travel industry leaders are making a play...
5
Fashion Rental Market:
Fashion rental services are evolving to benefit brands and consumers,...
6
Why a hybrid approach is the future of events:
As some regions re-open, the virtual spaces that provided a lifeline for...
7
Contemplative Stores:
Taking cues from places of tranquillity and contemplation, retailers around...
8
SPF’s Skintellectual future:
Brands are pioneering new methods to future-proof skin through hybrid...
9
Emerging Youth: US Hispanic:
As one of America’s largest multicultural consumer groups, Hispanic youth...
10
Sneaker Hubs Market:
A new wave of online sneaker hubs is gaining traction by providing...
11
Sportive Affluents:
With active pursuits growing among luxurians, traditional sports are surging...
12
Alternative Vintners:
Next-generation winemakers are experimenting with low- and no-alcohol...
13
The audio-first future of Muslim social media:
A spokesperson for social media platform Sango, explains how audio-based...
14
The patriotic future of Chinese travel:
Closed to tourists until 2022, domestic travel is an important engine of...
15