This year’s Overwatch League season officially kicks off on Feb. 8, and fans around the world will tune in to see their favorite teams return to the game. However, unlike previous years, those fans won’t find the season opener streaming on Twitch. Instead, they’ll be turning to YouTube.
Late last week, Activision Blizzard announced a new, multiyear partnership with Google Cloud. As part of this deal, YouTube will host the official live broadcasts for all Activision Blizzard esports leagues, including the Overwatch League, Hearthstone Esports, and the new Call of Duty League. (The only place this doesn’t apply is in China.)
In addition to the new streaming home, this deal means that Activision Blizzard will host all of its game infrastructure on Google Cloud. The company can use Google Cloud’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools to offer curated recommendations for a player’s in-game offers and an individualized gaming experience.
The livestream content will live on each league’s official YouTube channel. Check out the Call of Duty League’s opening weekend content here!
Photo: Activision Blizzard
