Overwatch League First Impressions: Can Blizzard Keep Momentum Going?

We are through most of the first week of the Overwatch League, Blizzard’s largest esports venture to date. Since its initial announcement at 2016 Blizzcon, fans have been dying to finally cheer on their favorite teams and watch the best Winston plays on this continent. Like the rest of Blizzard’s fandom, I’ve had Twitch open the whole weekend and watched what I believe to be the biggest shake up in esports. Here are my first impressions, from the amazing to the “why are they doing that?”

Super Popular- The first day of the OL broke 300,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch. Day Two and Three evened out at around 200,000, which is still an amazing feat for a brand-new experience. I’ve said for over a year that the OL was going to be a big thing, but I never expected this level of commitment to a brand. If the hordes of fans can stick around for the next few weeks and don’t fall off when the hype dies down, then we could have new titan in esports. Personally, I believe the numbers will fall once League Of Legends NA LCS starts soon, but I am no Nostradamus.

What’s Happening- My biggest problem with Overwatch esports is understanding what’s actually happening on screen. I love watching League and Hearthstone because I know exactly what’s going on, but with a fast-paced shooter, it’s nearly impossible for me to follow the action. I see some players take great routes or get awesome headshots, but the macro play I love so much gets lost in the shuffle. I love knowing why a play happens, why someone ganked bot lane or played a risque minion. The thought behind those moves are why I love esports. With the OL, I just can’t get that.

Top-Notch Talent- Blizzard brought in two of esports greatest casters, Monte Cristo and DOA, and it really shows. The level of professionalism on the analyst and caster desks is top-notch, which is odd for a game with a brand-new scene. Usually, games pool their on-air talent from content creators in the community, who may not have the chutzpah needed to charm and inform a crowd. Blizzard skipped that problem entirely by cultivating its own talent, creating a super-team that can explain what’s happening to even the newest of players.

I’m Sticking Around- Over the next six months, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the OL. It’s potential for growth is sky high. Season tickets to be in the live studio audience are already hard to come by. Blizzard has spent a ridiculous amount of cash to make the Overwatch League amazing and it really shows. We will know for sure what the future holds soon enough and I’ve already ordered my New York Excelsior jersey.