OverActive Media has partnered with Mirage Sport Électronique to launch an esports team in Montreal.
The team will compete in Overwatch Contenders as the official academy team of Overwatch League franchise Toronto Defiant.
OverActive Media is the parent company of Splyce and owns Toronto Defiant, one of eight expansion teams to join Activision Blizzard’s league during the off season.
Chris Overholt, President and CEO of OverActive Media discussed the team in a statement: “We are really excited about partnering with Yannick and his team to launch the first pro esports franchise in Quebec. Today is about continuing our commitment to growing esports nationwide, and expanding our Toronto Defiant fanbase in Quebec and across Eastern Canada.”
The team – which includes seven players, two coaches, and a general manager – will live in a gaming house located in Quebec. They’ll both live and train in the facility.
Yannick Babin, President of Mirage Sport Électronique added: “This is a huge step toward the democratization of esports in Quebec. We want to prove that Quebec is able to compete with the giants of esports, and this the first step in doing just that.”
Last month, OverActive Media received over $22 million (£17.1 million) in a funding round. The round included current shareholders and new investors whose identities weren’t revealed.
Esports Insider says: It’s a tad strange to see an Academy team be launched for an entirely different city than its main team, but this is an interesting move nonetheless. It’s good to see more cities being introduced to the industry, though. Best of luck to OverActive Media and Montreal!