Overwatch 2 wasn’t off the esports scene for long.

Two months after the Overwatch League folded, publisher Blizzard Entertainment announced a partnership with tournament organizer ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) to launch the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) in 2024.

“A thriving esports scene is important to a game as competitive as Overwatch 2, and we’re very excited to be entering this next era for the franchise with EFG,” Overwatch 2 executive producer Jared Neuss said in a news release Tuesday.

The OWCS will operate in North America, Asia and the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa). EFG will oversee North America and EMEA, and Korean tournament organizer WDG will be in charge of Asia.

The NA/EMEA format calls for three weeks of qualifiers before a main event with an eight-team, double-elimination bracket structure. In-person events are scheduled for DreamHack Dallas (May 31-June 2) and DreamHack Stockholm (Nov. 22-24).

ESL FACEIT is owned by Savvy Games Group, which in turn is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund that has been accused of sportswashing while making inroads in world soccer and the LIV Golf League.

–Field Level Media