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Overwatch League’s debut season is just around the corner and there’s already some exciting news for those of you who are avid Twitch viewers. Blizzard and Twitch have announced a multi-year deal that see every match of e-sports league broadcast on the streaming platform.
Having signed the deal, there’s also some new information that’s great for viewers. Both companies have revealed a series of features designed to enhance the viewfinder experience and offer bonuses to those who watch the league on Twitch.
Here’s how it works: fans that “cheer” in Twitch chat (eg. using animated emotes purchased with real money) during matches will have a chance to earn exclusive in-game items such as new emotes and rare character skins. In addition, viewers will have a chance to earn “league tokens,” which are a form of virtual currency in Overwatch and are exclusively used to buy in-game league jerseys. You will get all of this just by watching matches on Twitch (you will have to connect your Battle.net account with your Twitch account).
Aside from these features, Twitch says it’s also “developing a VIP ticket to the best of the Overwatch League that unlocks even more in-game items, behind-the-scenes video content on Twitch, and plenty of other perks to be announced.”
The partnership between the two companies runs through the league’s first two seasons. As reported by ESPN, the deal is estimated to be worth around $90 million. Per Blizzard, more than 10 million people have watched Overwatch League matches during its opening week in January, having an average audience of 280,000 viewers over that time span.
