The Esports World Cup, a multi-title esports event, has announced Overwatch 2 as the latest title for the 2025 edition of the competition.
The hero shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next year after featuring in the inaugural 2024 Esports World Cup.
Last year’s Overwatch 2 competition at the Esports World Cup peaked at 100,000 viewers, a decrease when compared to the Overwatch Champions Series 2024 Major which took place in late May and early June. The event saw 16 teams competing for a $1.05m (~£823,022) prize pool and points contributing to the Club competition, which featured a further $20m (~£15.6m) in prize money.
It’s unclear if the competition will form part of the 2025 Overwatch Champions Series, Overwatch 2’s esports ecosystem operated by tournament organiser and Esports World Cup partner ESL FACEIT Group. 2025 will be the second year of the circuit, which now includes a promotion and relegation structure to provide teams in the FACEIT League with opportunities to enter the regular season.
Overwatch 2 is the 12th title featured at the 2025 Esports World Cup. It joins EAFC 25, Call of Duty: Warzone, Free Fire, and more on its growing roster of tournaments with more likely to be announced soon.
Outside of announcing games appearing at the Esports World Cup, the Esports World Cup Foundation continues to invest in the project. This month, the organiser of the event expanded its partner programme to 40 organisations with the aim of attracting organisations from China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and MENA.
The Esports World Cup Foundation remains a topic of controversy from industry stakeholders due to its ties with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Discussions on the Kingdom’s human rights record remain as it keeps expanding its presence within esports, entertainment, and sports industries.
