The Overwatch League is getting bigger.
ESPN’s Jacob Wolf reports teams in Chengdu, China, and Vancouver, Canada have purchased team slots in the previous 12-team Overwatch league.
The team-based multiplayer shooter developed by Blizzard has enjoyed serious success since regular season play started back in January, debuting to over 10 million viewers across multiple platforms in its first week. With 12 teams vying for the $3.5 million prize pool, the London Spitfire became the first OWL championship in league history.
Chengdu will be led by Huya, a popular streaming service in China. Vancouver’s team will be led by Aquilini Investment Group, the same group that owns the Vancouver Canucks and the Rogers arena.
The Overwatch League has also added teams in Toronto, Paris, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Atlanta, and Washington. With Chengdu and China entering the fold, the Overwatch League will eventually total 20 teams.
An expansion isn’t at all surprising for the eSports juggernaut. OWL season one proved the league is more than viable. With more teams, there will be more viewers and competition. It’s awesome to see the league thrive.
[ESPN]
