Saudi-Backed Esports Firm to Run New ‘Overwatch’ Competitions

ESL FACEIT Group, an esports business backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, will host a new series of competitions tied to Microsoft Corp.’s Overwatch 2 game.

ESL will operate the Overwatch Champions Series in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa starting in February. A Korean esports company, WDG, will run a circuit in Asia, where many professional Overwatch players live.

A new “open” format will allow high-level players to compete regardless of whether they are amateur or professional.

The series replaces the Overwatch League, an attempt by Activision Blizzard, now owned by Microsoft, to run ...