Overwatch Esports News

Blizzard Entertainment just made it official: Overwatch 2 is now simply Overwatch. The announcement came during the Overwatch Spotlight event on February 4, 2026, confirming what eagle-eyed players had already suspected after noticing subtle changes across promotional materials and Steam product listings. But this wasn't just about dropping a number from the title, it marks the beginning of the game's most ambitious transformation yet.

Overwatch announced plans to introduce 10 new Heroes in 2026. The first five will release with Season 1 on February 10. The remaining five Heroes will be released throughout the year, one per season.

The Esports World Cup Federation (EWCF) has launched the Road to EWC, a global qualifying circuit featuring connecting publisher leagues, international events, and grassroots qualifiers into one cohesive season-long journey to Riyadh.

VALORANT Night Market will return in Season 2026 Act 1 on February 5th and continue until March 2nd.

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is scheduled to commence in November 2026, backed by a $45 million commitment from the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) in the form of prize money, incentives, and development funds.

s1mple and BC.Game kick off their IEM Krakow campaign with a stunning 2-0 victory over Legacy, featuring a first-map comeback from an 11-2 deficit.

In a significant legal blow to the operator of the world’s largest PC gaming platform, a UK court has ruled that a £656 million (approx. $900 million) class-action lawsuit against Valve Corporation can proceed to trial. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 14 million UK Steam users, alleges that Valve has abused its dominant market position to overcharge gamers.

BLIZZARD kicked off the year with its first Director’s Take of 2026, outlining significant updates coming to Overwatch 2. From a complete rework of the ranking system to adjustments in console aiming and events, the team detailed several community-driven changes that will shape the game’s next phase.

The first wave of Esports World Cup 2026 tickets is now live on the EWC website, and fans have the option to choose from Weekly All Access Passes, Premium Tournament Passes, and an exclusive Esports Embassy Experience.

Strafe Esports was recently invited to attend a media event organized by the EWC (Esports World Cup). In it, an open discussion was held around EWC 2026 and beyond, answering some of the bigger questions surrounding one of the world’s biggest emerging esports tournament organizers.

Esports World Cup 2026 announced a historic $75 million prize pool. The annual event will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 6, featuring 25 tournaments across 24 games.

Trackmania joins the Esports World Cup 2026 lineup. In this precision racing esport, 32 players from all over the world will compete in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their share of a $500,000 prize pool.

Blizzard is taking another swing at a StarCraft shooter, and this time it looks like we might actually see it. Reports suggest the game will headline BlizzCon 2026 this September, marking the company's third attempt to bring the beloved RTS franchise into the action genre. Details Are Starting to Leak Jez Corden from Windows Central broke the news, confirming through his own sources that a StarCraft third-person shooter is in development and likely to be revealed at BlizzCon 2026 onmore

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has unveiled the format of the 2026 Esports Nations Cup, scheduled for November. The tournament will feature 24-48 national teams per team-based title and 32-128 individuals per solo title.

Just like that, a year of esports action has come and gone. Whether you're a fan of FPS games, a devoted MOBA gamer, or anything in-between, chances are that 2025 delivered its fair share of thrills, heartbreaks, and unforgettable moments. Before we move on to a new season of competition and coverage, join us as we go through our Strafe Esports Wrapped, taking a look back at our best performing esports, players, teams, and news articles throughout the year. Mostmore

Season 20 brings glorious bounty for Vendetta players. Overwatch 2’s newest hero is already receiving a new skin – High Society Vendetta – as well as an accompanying player card and icon. Here’s how to get your hands on these goodies. Dress in Style as You Terrorize on Vendetta Season 20 introduces not just Overwatch 2’s first melee DPS hero, but her first skin as well. High Society Vendetta is unlockable via the Ultimate Battle Pass while both the matchingmore