Press release -
ESL FACEIT Group Launches FACEIT League, an Overwatch® Team League Featuring Non-Stop Action for Players of All Skill Levels
All-new open and inclusive multi-divisional team league offers players more opportunities to compete, with USD $170,000 prize pool and a chance to qualify for the inaugural Esports World Cup
London, 27th March – ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company, today announced the launch of FACEIT League, an Overwatch® team League operated by FACEIT, the world’s leading online platform for competitive gaming. The all-new open circuit invites players of all skill levels across six regions to compete for their chance to win a share of the $170,000 prize pool and secure a seat at top regional slots in the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) taking place this summer.
FACEIT League builds on the success of the platform’s long-running Counter-Strike model, which fosters gaming communities through always-on, consistent, and rewarding structured competition and an emphasis on teamwork. An extension of ESL FACEIT Group’s multi-year agreement with Blizzard Entertainment to drive the growth of Overwatch Esports, the new community platform offers players opportunities to go from grassroots play to the world stage.
"The response from Overwatch players on FACEIT has exceeded our expectations and illustrates the need for the robust, sustainable structure that we’re building with FACEIT League,” said Warren Leigh, Senior Vice President of Product, Digital Platforms, ESL FACEIT Group. “With over 50 seasons of Counter-Strike experience building some of the most successful grassroots esports ecosystems, having the opportunity to support the Overwatch community with a bespoke program is incredibly exciting.”
FACEIT League will offer multiple seven-week seasons each year, maximizing the number of opportunities for players in North America; EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, North Africa), Oceania, and South America to compete. The circuit caters to all levels of players, from fledgeling first-timers to experienced teams, presenting more opportunities to showcase raw talent and help them practice, improve, and qualify for in-person events with substantial prize pools. The Regular Season 1 takes place from April 29 to June 9, with the winning teams progressing to the Playoffs happening from June 10-23. Teams will then compete for a coveted $170,000 FACEIT League cash prize, as well as higher division promotion and a seat across EMEA, North America, Oceania and South America slots at the Esports World Cup taking place this Summer 2024.
Divisions for each region will be split into Master: Road to Esports World Cup; Expert, Advanced, and Open, with an Advanced division available for players from EMEA and North America. Expert and Advanced divisions will only be accessible via invitation to the top players based on their Elo rating, which starts based on players’ in-game ranks.
Registration for the FACEIT League Season 1 opened on Monday, March 25 at 5PM CET/4PM GMT, and ends on Thursday, April 25 at 5pm CET/4pm GMT. For more details on the FACEIT League structure and prize pool distribution, visit: https://www.faceit.com/en/league-pass/ow2
Watch the trailer and find all assets here.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Reddit.
For more general information, visit eslfaceitgroup.com or follow ESL FACEIT Group on LinkedIn.
Categories
About FACEIT
FACEIT creates a world where the community has the power to shape video games. As the leading independent competitive gaming platform for online multiplayer PvP gamers, we aim to further the esports ecosystem by offering players of all levels the chance to compete in a competitive environment with the games they love while providing publishers and third-party organizers with the tools needed to build their competitive community. FACEIT is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading competitive games and esports company.
About ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.
