Overwatch Champions Series 2025 Kicks off on January

Blizzard Entertainment has reimagined the competitive landscape for Overwatch esports, and the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) season 1 kicks off on January 31, bringing some changes.

The 2025 OWCS season introduces a revamped season format with every Regular Season match broadcasting and a more consistent program across NA, EMEA, and Asia. Most teams will get auto-qualified for the next stage, with two slots per region being filled through promotion and relegation.

Each region will see 8-12 teams competing in a round-robin Regular Season format, with the top six advancing to double-elimination playoffs. Grand Finals will use an extended “first-to-four” format. The top two playoff teams secure spots at the Champions Clash, while all six playoff teams qualify for Stage 2. Lower-ranked teams will face relegation battles.

In 2025, Blizzard is launching a Team Partner Program to support nine top-tier teams across North America, EMEA and Asia. Partner teams will share in proceeds from crowdfunded in-game content, including exclusive branded skins and items, providing them with a stable foundation for growth.

The OWCS 2025 Stage 1 begins on January 31, with top teams from both the Partner Program and Open Qualifiers set to compete:

EMEA Teams:

• Partner Teams: Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Gen.G
• Open Qualifier Teams: The Ultimates, Sakura Esports, Team Peps, Al Qadsiah, Team Vision

North American Teams:

• Partner Teams: Team Liquid, Spacestation Gaming
• Open Qualifier Teams: Timeless, Avidity, Rad Esports, NTMR, Shikigami, Amplify

This marks a return to Overwatch esports for Team Liquid, absent since 2017, and Spacestation Gaming, which shifts from the EMEA region after a successful 2024 campaign.

The Stage 1 playoffs will take place from March 1 to March 9, with the top teams vying for spots at the Champions Clash. Teams finishing at the bottom will enter the relegation tournament on April 13.