Overwatch Esports has officially unveiled the Overwatch Champion Series (OWCS) 2025 at DreamHack Stockholm, kicking off a year-long competitive journey for Overwatch 2. This guide breaks down the circuit’s schedule, format, the Promotion & Relegation system, and the newly introduced OWCS Team Partner program.
OWCS 2025 Overview
The OWCS 2025 circuit spans three competitive stages, culminating in the World Finals in November 2025. It begins with an Open Qualifier for North America (NA) and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) in January 2025. Successful teams move to the Stage 1 Regular Season, where matches will be broadcasted live.
Key elements include:
- A three-stage competitive circuit.
- Live events and international playoffs in each stage.
- Integration with the FACEIT League: Master Series for Promotion & Relegation tournaments.
OWCS 2025 Format and Schedule
Stage 1
- Regular Season: Eight teams in a single round robin; the top six advance to the playoffs, while the bottom two enter the Promotion & Relegation tournament.
- Playoffs: Six teams compete in a double-elimination bracket; the top teams proceed to live events and Stage 2.
- Promotion & Relegation: A 4-team tournament where the bottom two OWCS teams compete against the top two FACEIT League teams.
Stage 2
- Regular Season: Same format as Stage 1.
- Playoffs: Features regional events, such as Asia’s double-elimination bracket.
- Promotion & Relegation: A repeat of Stage 1’s system.
Stage 3
- Regular Season and Playoffs: Follow the same structure as previous stages. However, there is no Promotion & Relegation tournament after Stage 3.
OWCS Promotion & Relegation Tournaments
The Promotion & Relegation tournaments are integral to the OWCS ecosystem, allowing top-performing FACEIT League teams a chance to enter the OWCS Regular Season while underperforming OWCS teams fight to retain their spots.
OWCS Team Partner Program
The OWCS Team Partner program supports up to nine Overwatch 2 esports teams across NA, EMEA, and Asia. Partnered teams receive a share of revenue from in-game, team-branded bundles. Teams must declare their interest by December 2, 2024.
FACEIT League: Master Series
The FACEIT League: Master Series acts as a feeder system for the OWCS circuit. It offers a low-barrier entry for aspiring teams to climb into the professional Overwatch 2 scene.
A New Era for Overwatch Esports
Leaders like Bailey McCann and Sean Miller emphasize the accessibility and competitive opportunities provided by OWCS 2025. As Miller stated, “The power of an open ecosystem is that if you’re good, you can make it to live events and even the World Finals.”
OWCS 2025 promises a year of thrilling competition, setting the stage for new talents to shine and established teams to dominate. Stay tuned as the action unfolds!
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