Activision Blizzard kicked off its first geo-affiliated esports league in 2017 and quickly caught attention that persists to this day.
Many brands, like Coca-Cola and T-Mobile, have been Overwatch League sponsors since day one, while others, such as Intel, have come and gone. To keep track of it all, we have compiled all current brand partners here for your convenience, along with important information about each.
Overwatch League brand sponsors
Note: This list is subject to change, and includes previous sponsors at the bottom. This list does not include partners that aren’t sponsors, such as broadcasting or apparel distribution partners. Unless otherwise noted, the following brands sponsor the entire Overwatch League and not an individual team.
Coca-Cola
Parent company: The Coca-Cola Company
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2013
Beverage giant Coca-Cola was named the official non-alcoholic beverage of the Overwatch League and other Overwatch properties in 2019.
The multi-year deal gives Coca-Cola exclusivity with all of the 20 franchises that have bought into the Overwatch League, as well as Overwatch Contenders, Overwatch World Cup, BlizzCon, and collegiate events.
Comcast: Xfinity
Parent company: Comcast Corporation
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2016
Comcast’s Xfinity brand was named the official internet service provider presenting sponsor of the 2020 Overwatch League online season’s English-language feed. It is also a sponsor of team Philadelphia Fusion.
The new two-year partnership follows a previous alliance for the 2019 Overwatch League playoffs and grand finals, the latter of which were held at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
Comcast’s partnership included sponsored ‘In Case You Missed It’ highlight videos. Plus, Xfinity customers can quickly access livestreams via YouTube by saying “Overwatch League” into the X1 voice remote.
IBM
Parent company: International Business Machines Corporation
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2020
Global technology and data services firm IBM made its first esports sponsorship ever in 2020 by partnering with the Overwatch League. The legacy computer technology brand is the official AI, cloud, machine learning, and analytics partner of OWL. IBM was the presenting sponsor of the Overwatch League Grand Finals competition in October.
Kellogg Company (Pringles, Cheez-It)
Parent company: Kellogg’s
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2017
Playing video games and munching on snacks have always gone hand in hand. It’s no surprise, then, that Kellogg’s would take advantage of the burgeoning esports industry. The multi-year Overwatch League sponsor deal that will last through 2021 includes co-marketing initiatives with Kellogg Company’s Cheez-It and Pringles brands.
State Farm
Parent company: StateFarm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2018
Insurance and financial giant State Farm was named the official North American insurance provider of the Overwatch League in 2019. The company is a presenting sponsor for video and event content such as “Assist of the Week” and events including the Widowmaker 1v1 tournament. State Farm branding is also made visible during competitive events.
Teamspeak
Parent company: TeamSpeak Systems
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: Approx. 2001
Overwatch League appointed audio communication platform TeamSpeak as its official voice supplier. In a three-year deal which began in 2020, the league will integrate TeamSpeak into its systems to facilitate in-game communications.
The partnership also includes global marketing initiatives that will see TeamSpeak activate at Overwatch League events throughout the season. Sweepstakes are included, with fans being able to win tickets to events and branded prizes.
T-Mobile
Parent company: Deutsche Telekom AG
Country of Origin: Germany
Active in Esports since: 2017
T-Mobile was one of the first Overwatch League sponsors to sign up and is currently enjoying a multi-year agreement as the “official wireless provider” of the Overwatch League in the United States.
The mobile carrier also sponsors individual League teams Houston Outlaws and New York Excelsior. Previously, T-Mobile has been the exclusive title sponsor of the Overwatch League Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, and Overwatch World Cup.
Activations include content for T-Mobile customers throughout the season, exclusive perks, insider’s look at the top MVP candidates, and more.
Previous Overwatch League sponsors
Bud Light
Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI)
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2016
Bud Light was named the official beer sponsor for the Overwatch League, a partnership that included the OWL 2019 season.
Dreamseat: Zipchair Gaming
Parent company: DreamSeat
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2015
Furniture company DreamSeat‘s brand Zipchair Gaming was named the official chair supplier of the Overwatch League in 2019. The deal extended throughout 2020.
HyperX
Parent company: Kingston Technology, under Hewlett-Packard Company
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: approx. 2008
HyperX was named the ‘official memory partner‘ of the Overwatch League in 2020. The Kingston Technology brand is known for producing gaming headsets, keyboards, and other peripherals. In April 2021, the company became an official partner for OWL franchise Atlanta Reign only.
Intel
Parent company: Intel Corporation
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2000
Intel was one of the first Overwatch League sponsors alongside HP, Inc. The technology giant provided equipment for franchise teams and events in a multi-year partnership agreement.
OMEN by HP
Parent company: Hewlett-Packard
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2017
OMEN by HP was one of the first two Overwatch League sponsors alongside Intel, providing equipment to the franchise teams and tournaments as part of a multi-year deal.
Spotify
Parent company: Spotify Technology S.A
Country of Origin: USA
Active in Esports since: 2018
Spotify teamed up with the Overwatch League during its inaugural season to create a series of themed music playlists. It has since become the official audio partner of League of Legends global events.
Toyota
Parent company: The Toyota Motor Corporation
Country of Origin: Japan
Active in Esports since: 2018
Toyota joined The Overwatch League as a North American launch partner. Activations included sponsored content, streaming integrations, and a vehicle presence at Blizzard Arena.