Summary
AnOverwatch 2fan spotted a real-life tribute to a popular Overwatch League team, reminding players about the golden age ofOverwatch 2’s esports scene. While Blizzard officially shut down the Overwatch League last November, theOverwatch 2community continues to be active and fans regularly share their best memories of the Overwatch League.
The Overwatch League wasOverwatch’s official professional esports league for six years, where the best players and teams across the world fought for the title of Grand Champion at the end of each season. In 2023, the Overwatch League teams collectively asked Blizzard to waive all franchise fees so that they could leaveOverwatch 2’s professional esports scene. Shortly after,Blizzard announced the end of the Overwatch League, as the company decided to opt for a different esports structure for its FPS.
A Reddit user known as Abstractionss shared a picture of a mural they found in the streets of Philadelphia depicting the city’s Overwatch League home team, Philadelphia Fusion. The mural shows sixOverwatch 2heroes, namely Tracer, Cassidy, Reaper, Widowmaker, Genji, and Winston, wearing the iconic orange and black skins of Philadelphia Fusion. These themed appearances forOverwatchheroes were created in 2018 tocelebrate the Overwatch League.
In the comments to this Reddit post, fans of the Overwatch League shared their favorite moments of this esports competition. Some of them noted that the mural depicted six heroes, meaning it was painted prior to the release ofOverwatch 2and the switch from six heroes to five. Others joked that no support was present in this mural, reminding them of the funOverwatchteam compositionsthey saw during Overwatch League matches. Most comments were nostalgic about the Overwatch League and their local teams.
Overwatch 2 New Professional Esports Scene
While the Overwatch League no longer exists,Overwatch 2still has an active esports scene. Blizzard signed a multi-year deal with ESL FaceIt Group to create theOverwatch Champions Series, also known as OWCS. This newOverwatch 2esports ecosystem is meant to be more open than the Overwatch League, allowing anyone who has the skills to challenge the best players to participate. Teams compete in a set of Open Qualifiers to secure their place in the Main Event, an in-person international event showcasing the bestOverwatch 2matches. The first OWCS Major international event will take place at DreamHack Dallas between May 31 and June 2.
