Another one of the Overwatch League's iconic stars has decided to hang up the mouse and keyboard.
What factors have led to the Houston Outlaws’ red hot start? Let’s take a closer look at the factors that have re-established the squad as a contender in the 2021 Overwatch League season.
The 2021 Overwatch League season schedule is live with 208 total matches slated for the regular season. Each team is scheduled to play 16 regular-season qualification matches, plus additional contests across the four tournaments. Teams will be divided into two groups based on their location for the season: East and West, with all 20 teams are competing for a share of a $4.25 million prize pool in 2021.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology will host third annual Pennsylvania Cup featuring collegiate esports teams from across PA competing in Overwatch and League of Legends from February 27-28. The collegiate esports tournament will take place entirely online this year due to complications and restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
RESPAWN Marketing Manager Alex Gonzalez provided Inven Global with the following statement regarding how the execution of the partnership with Misfits around the globe would be affected, if at all, by the COVID-19 pandemic:
After yesterday's small teaser announcement via Twitter, Activision Blizzard is bringing the Kanezaka Challenge to Overwatch. The two-week event will give OW players many opportunities to earn limited-time rewards, including an epic skin for Hanzo.
This is the first partnership of its kind between an Overwatch League team and a university.
UPDATE 11/10: Dallas Fuel has signed another former Element Mystic member in Seung-soo "Jecse" Lee, bringing the team near the completion of its roster for the 2021 Overwatch League season. The South Korean support previously played for Houston Outlaws in OWL 2020 and Seoul Dynasty in the playoffs of Overwatch League 2019.
Another piece of the puzzle to San Francisco Shock's back-to-back championships is released from the team. Dong-jun "Rascal" Kim, who was a major piece to the Shock, is not going to be with the team next season.
Overwatch League franchise Los Angeles Gladiators is parting ways with one of its most beloved members. Aaron "Bischu" Kim, who played Off-Tank for the LA Gladiators in the recently concluded 2020 OWL season, has announced he will be looking for offers in management and coaching position in both the League of Legends and Overwatch esports scenes.
Over four years after the game's release, Overwatch maps Hollywood & Volskaya Industries are receiving a quality of life adjustment.
UPDATE 8/5: FaZe Clan has confirmed the signing of Rawkus as its fifth VALORANT player, which completes its starting roster. Rawkus was a member of FaZe Clan in 2016 at the start of his professional Overwatch career, and will now return to the organization to start his VALORANT career.
The Support joined Houston Outlaws' first roster in 2017 and spent the entirety of his Overwatch League career with the squad.
Harrisburg University has been hosting the Harrisburg University Esports Invitational since 2018, and in 2020, the event will return for the third consecutive year with a small adjustment.
Despite facing numerous obstacles in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrisburg University’s Esports team, the HU Storm, displayed passion and resiliency by winning its second consecutive Collegiate Overwatch National Championship this afternoon.
Last weekend, Overwatch revealed a new legendary skin and also mentioned that an in-game event would be accompanying the skin's release alongside other potential rewards. Through July 27, players can participate in Sigma's Maestro Challenge for a chance to win up to nine rewards, including the legendary Maestro Sigma skin. Players across PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch will be eligible to participate in the contest.
Tremors shook when Overwatch League franchise Vancouver Titans, home of the majority of the legendary Run Away lineup from South Korea's OGN Apex league in the early days of OW esports, released the entirety of its roster abruptly during the 2020 OWL season. However, in the past month, five of the former Vancouver Titans players have found new organizations to play for in the Overwatch League.
BlizzCon's likelihood of occurrence was already in jeopardy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has now been confirmed that the event will be canceled due to the national health complications that are affecting humanity worldwide.
DraftBuff is a fantasy esports app that allows players to compete in standard season long fantasy leagues as well as a short-lived, salary style fantasy tournament called Draft Royales. Both forms of competition feature premiere esports leagues from four of the largest team-based esports in the world.
Overwatch League franchise Vancouver Titans will be returning to the Pacific Division next week, but the team will be out two familiar faces.
