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Working conditions won’t be too bad for Overwatch League players

By Derek Helling

Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment /
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The first season of Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch League is taking shape, and life for players on the seven teams will be pretty sweet.

Blizzard Entertainment released details about player compensation and benefits on Wednesday for the first season of Overwatch League. It’s a package that players in some more established professional sport entertainment leagues like the NFL might be envious of.

According to a press release from Blizzard, all seven teams will be required to provide the following for every team member:

  • A minimum annual salary of $50,000. Contracts are guaranteed for the first season with a team option for a second season.
  • Health insurance
  • Retirement savings plan
  • Housing during the season
  • A facility to use for practice during the season
  • At least 50 percent of any team bonuses

Rosters will include at least six players, with a maximum of 12. Players will be signed by teams during a free agency signing window of August 1 to October 30. There will be no “region locking” (restrictions on which teams can sign which players based on the player’s nationality of origin or domicile), so it will truly be a free agent market in which teams will compete for the best players based on the player’s interest and what the team can offer. Finally, players who currently have any contracts with existing teams must re-sign new contracts during the signing period.

For the players of Overwatch League to get guaranteed contracts and at least 50 percent of team bonuses despite the fact that as of yet there is no players association shows Blizzard’s commitment to equitable labor practices. It’s also in Blizzard’s best interest. Attracting the world’s top talent requires offering the most enticing package possible.

This framework could also serve as a model for League of Legends’ North American LCS, which has recently dramatically shifted its format. Part of those initiatives is the creation of a players association to ensure the future of the LCS.

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As Overwatch League continues to evolve and grow, a players association is likely to be formed to make sure that players get their fair share of the league’s revenues. This isn’t a bad place for the players to start.