The Overwatch esports scene continues to push forward despite a noticeable decline in viewership, driven by the major 2024 overhaul following the closure of the Overwatch League (OWL).
Recent developments show that while the launch and growth of the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) have brought some renewed energy to the competitive space, the downward trajectory has persisted into 2025.
According to data from Esports Charts, the year has started slowly. According to eTrueSports, eight tournaments have been held in 2025, with the Crazy Raccoon Cup Five drawing the highest peak viewership at close to 150,000.
The OWCS regional qualifiers for 2025 are currently underway. The most-watched match to date occurred during Korea Stage One, reaching nearly 70,000 peak viewers. That event alone has contributed almost half of the total $65,000 prize pool accumulated so far in 2025.
The Overwatch esports scene has struggled to maintain the momentum it had back in 2023, a year that marked the release of Overwatch 2. That period saw over 100 tournaments take place and viewership peaked above 300,000 during the Overwatch World Cup 2023.
Yet even during that peak year, OWL viewership had already seen a significant drop—down nearly 50% compared to early 2022 figures. Much of the blame was directed at Blizzard’s handling of the competitive ecosystem. Key criticisms included the move to YouTube for streaming and broken promises regarding revenue for participating teams.
Overwatch EsportsWith the fall of the OWL, the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) was introduced in 2024 as a replacement for the franchised league model. While the OWCS Major experienced a brief uptick in viewership, the 2024 Finals only managed to reach half the numbers seen during the Overwatch World Cup the previous year.
Shrinking Viewership Calls Concerns For Overwatch Esports Future
Multiple factors appear to be contributing to the continued drop in interest. One commonly cited reason is the end of the pandemic-induced boost, as people spend less time at home watching streams.
Another major factor is the ongoing decline in Overwatch’s general popularity. The transition to Overwatch 2, and the prolonged focus on PVE content, created a gap in updates for the core multiplayer game.
The launch itself sparked backlash from professional players—particularly over the switch to a 5v5 format. Additionally, new titles like Marvel Rivals have gained traction, pulling part of the fanbase away from Overwatch.
Still, Blizzard is pushing to keep the competitive spirit alive. The recent addition of the perk system to Overwatch 2 could reignite interest in the game’s meta.
The potential for a resurgence also exists with the International Olympic Committee stepping into the esports arena, which might help draw fresh attention to Overwatch’s competitive scene.
With Overwatch 2 set to be part of the Esports World Cup 2025, there’s still hope for a turnaround in a scene that’s been struggling to regain its former glory.