Overwatch 2
GameBy Blizzard Entertainment · Released Aug 2023
Documents about Overwatch 2
Goodbye OWL, Hello Overwatch Champions Series
Blizzard Entertainment has officially transitioned its competitive Overwatch 2 ecosystem away from the franchised Overwatch League model, replacing it with the newly formed Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS).
- Blizzard Entertainment has replaced the franchised Overwatch League with a new open-circuit competition called the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS).
- The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) will operate the new circuit, managing competitions in North America and the EMEA region, while the South Korean organizer WDG will oversee operations in Asia.
- The OWCS circuit is scheduled to launch in February 2024 and will utilize the FACEIT platform for online qualifiers and tournaments.
Median Revenue and Player Count for Top Free-to-Play Games on Steam
The analysis examines the performance of free-to-play (F2P) titles on the Steam platform, addressing the inherent difficulty in tracking revenue and player metrics within the PC ecosystem.
- The median gross revenue for top-tier new free-to-play Steam releases is approximately $1.82 million, with a median player count of 763,000.
- The median revenue per player (RpP) is $2.02, though top-performing titles can achieve an RpP as high as $53.49.
- Library additions for free-to-play titles consistently exceed actual active player counts by a factor of 1.5 to 2.
National Student Esports Renews Partnership With HoYoverse
National Student Esports (NSE) has renewed its partnership with HoYoverse, the developer behind the popular open-world action RPG Genshin Impact.
- National Student Esports (NSE) has renewed its partnership with HoYoverse for the 2023/24 academic year.
- The agreement allows NSE to utilize the game Genshin Impact to host various challenges, activities, and events throughout the academic year.
- Under the partnership, NSE will provide support for third-party partners to host their own independent Genshin Impact events.
Overwatch’s “Hero Mode” Needed to be a Spinoff
The cancellation of the PvE Hero Mode in Overwatch 2 serves as a case study in the strategic pitfalls of attempting to merge disparate game genres within a single live-service framework.
- Attempting to merge PvP and PvE within a single live-service framework creates insurmountable conflicts in development pipelines, monetization models, and design constraints.
- The fundamental design requirements for competitive shooters—which prioritize hero balance and fairness—are incompatible with PvE systems that rely on power progression and gear-based monetization.
- Marketing PvE content as a headline feature of an existing competitive sequel rather than a standalone spin-off created unrealistic expectations and forced a rigid, unsustainable development roadmap.
Plus: Oh, Welcome to Steam, Overwatch 2!
This analysis examines the performance of recent video game releases across major digital storefronts, focusing on the week of August 11, 2023.
- Overwatch 2's Steam debut reached 75,000 concurrent users and ranked seventh in global revenue, despite receiving over 50,000 negative reviews and a 10% positive rating.
- Tower of Fantasy saw strong adoption on PlayStation, surpassing 250,000 players during the week of August 11, 2023.
- Stray led paid downloads on Xbox, while Disney Illusion Island maintained the top position on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Top 10 Games by First Week Hours Watched: May 2022–2023
Live streaming performance for major video game releases between May 2022 and May 2023 demonstrates a clear dominance of established franchises.
- Overwatch 2 was the most-watched gaming debut in live streaming over the past year, reaching the #3 spot in its first week and attracting 249,000 unique streaming channels.
- Sequels dominate top-performing debuts, with sequel titles generating an average of 30 million more hours watched during their launch week compared to their prequels' performance the week prior.
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom generated over 26.6 million hours watched in its first week, ranking as the 9th most-watched video game debut in live streaming history.
Confirmed: Chinese Overwatch League Team Chengdu Hunters Disbands
The Chengdu Hunters, a professional Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, have officially disbanded.
- The Chengdu Hunters, an Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, has officially disbanded.
- The dissolution follows the January 2023 collapse of the distribution partnership between NetEase and Activision Blizzard, which rendered games like Overwatch 2 legally unavailable in mainland China.
- Core players from the organization have either transitioned to the Hangzhou Spark or have become free agents.
Poison Pill: CMA Ruling Includes 10-Year Prohibition on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Takeover
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally blocked Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing significant concerns regarding the impact on the domestic game streaming market.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally blocked Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing concerns over the impact on the game streaming market.
- The CMA’s final report includes a 10-year prohibition preventing Microsoft from attempting to merge with Activision Blizzard, barring a significant change in circumstances.
- Both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have publicly announced their intention to appeal the CMA's decision.
Update: NetEase and Activision Blizzard Legal Status
The reported legal conflict between NetEase and Activision Blizzard regarding a $43.4 million USD debt has been clarified as a case of mistaken identity.
- Initial reports that NetEase filed a $43.4 million lawsuit against Activision Blizzard were incorrect, as the legal action was actually initiated by an individual gamer named Yang Jun.
- The confusion stemmed from multiple court filings, with the litigation involving a dispute over a World of Warcraft account rather than a corporate claim from NetEase.
- Activision Blizzard confirmed it has not received an indictment regarding the alleged $43.4 million debt and maintains that it has not violated any license agreements.
Overwatched Out: A Beta Test for Incoming Management
The Overwatch 2 beta release serves as a critical case study for the current state of Activision Blizzard, a publisher facing significant corporate and financial headwinds.
- Activision Blizzard faces significant financial pressure, evidenced by a 28% year-over-year decline in net bookings and ongoing legal challenges from the New York City Employees' Retirement System.
- The industry is undergoing rapid consolidation, highlighted by Microsoft’s pending acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Embracer Group’s $300 million purchase of Square Enix’s Western studios, and Lego’s $1 billion investment in Epic Games.
- The first-person shooter genre is a critical driver of engagement, generating six billion viewing hours in 2021 and necessitating strategic alignment with live-streaming platforms.
Activision Blizzard Games Going Offline: China
As of January 24, 2023, Activision Blizzard ceased operations for several major titles in China, including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, StarCraft, and Overwatch 2.
- As of January 24, 2023, Activision Blizzard games including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch 2, and StarCraft have gone offline in China due to the expiration of the company's 14-year partnership with NetEase.
- Because NetEase held the official government-mandated game approvals, the termination of the partnership effectively stripped the titles of their legal authorization to operate in the Chinese market.
- Any potential return of these titles to the Chinese market requires new government approval, a process that industry estimates suggest could take between six months and two years.
Esports Stadium Arlington to Host CECC Texas Finals
Collegiate Sports Management Group and ESPORTSU have announced that the OpTic Gaming-owned Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas will host the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) Texas Finals.
- Esports Stadium Arlington, owned by OpTic Gaming, will host the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) Texas Finals from May 6–7, 2023.
- The event will feature 64 collegiate teams from across the United States competing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, and Valorant.
- The tournament schedule begins with a May 5 red carpet ceremony and media day, followed by qualifying rounds on May 6 and finals on May 7.