Is this boring NFL season getting you down? Well, we have some more modern competition to look forward to soon.
Blizzard today announced the details for its new Overwatch League, an official organization designed to promote professional, competitive play of its hit team-based shooter. Overwatch is quickly becoming one of the most popular games in the growing esports market that’s worth $493 million. This official league, which will launch in 2017, from Blizzard will help grow its appeal.
Blizzard is also looking to help players that want to play Overwatch as their career. Each player in the league will have a contract that ensures compensation and benefits. These pros will play for teams based in major cities in the Americas, Europe, China, South Korea, and Asian Pacific regions, which is the way the biggest traditional sports leagues like English Premiere soccer and the National Basketball Association work.
The Overwatch League will even have its own combine (just like the NFL!), where invited players can show off their skills to team owners in the hope of securing a contract. The regular season will feature matches in front of live audiences, with the best teams moving on to live playoffs.
You can watch a video explaining the league below.
Overwatch launched this May, but it’s already become a big hit with over 20 million players. While it came out for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, the tournament scene focuses on PC players.