Overwatch 2 unveils new format for OWCS 2025

The Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS), Overwatch 2’s tier-one esports ecosystem, has announced a new format for its 2025 season.

Going into its second year, the OWCS will now feature promotion and relegation through FACEIT Leagues for North America and EMEA as well as WARA.GG for Asia.

The OWCS 2025 Season will consist of a three-season competitive circuit across its leagues in North America, EMEA and Asia. Each stage will include a regular season, playoffs and a live event. With the new season, OWCS has integrated further into the FACEIT League Master Series to qualify teams based on a promotion and relegation format in North America and EMEA.

The Promotion & Relegation tournament will provide the top two FACEIT League teams with an opportunity to enter the OWCS Regular Season by competing against the bottom two underperforming OWCS teams.

Prior to the Stage 1 regular season, an Open Qualifier will kick off in January. The top 8 to 12 teams (depending on the region) will then compete in a regular season to enter the playoff stage. Meanwhile, the bottom two teams of the regular will enter the promotion and relegation tournament. Following the playoff stage, OWCS’ will host its first live event of the season.

Stage 2 will follow the same structure as Stage 1 — Regular Season, Playoffs, Promotion/Relegation and a live event — except there is no Open Qualifier. Stage 3 will also follow the same structure as previous stages but without a promotion or relegation tournament.

In addition, each match in the OWCS, starting with the Regular Season in Stage 1, will be broadcast live.

The OWCS was formed in collaboration with ESL FACEIT Group after publisher Blizzard Entertainment closed the Overwatch League in 2023. The Overwatch Champions Series 2024 Finals was the most-watched Overwatch 2 event last year, securing a peak viewership of 159,918 viewers.

In addition to announcing the format, Overwatch 2 has also introduced a Partner Program that will be available for nine teams across NA, EMEA and Asia in 2025. Partnered teams can receive a portion of the proceeds generated from crowdfunded in-game team packs. Teams can apply for the programme until December 2nd.

Overwatch 2 will also introduce a series of brand packs and digital in-game goodies for the partnered OWCS teams. Further information about the partner program will be revealed close to the start of the tournament in January 2025.