Blizzard survey asks top-tier players to declare their interest.
The first stage of the Overwatch League recruitment process is now under way.
Overwatch League Commissioner Nate Nanzer has announced that potential competitors have been contacted, with a request that their information be shared with team owners as part of a general scouting report.
“On June 27, we sent out an email survey to a select group of top players from around the world who can now opt to be included in this report,” the letter begins.
“These players were chosen based on specific criteria:
- A top-500 finish in Competitive Play (based on Skill Rating) in Overwatch Seasons 3 or 4 for any region
- A playoff finish in recent high-caliber tournaments such as APEX Season 2 or Premier Series 2017 Spring, or an invitation to Pacific Championship 2017 Season 1
- Other distinguishing qualifications indicative of top-tier talent, including but not limited to membership on an established professional Overwatch team”
These top-flight players have been asked to declare their interest in taking part in Overwatch League, and having their information shared with team owners as part of that recruitment process. Those interested are also asked to provide details of gameplay preferences and experience.
When it comes to deciding who makes the cuts, Nanzer is keen to stress it’s not just all about data and statistics:
“In gathering and organizing this data, our intent is to provide teams with a useful tool to support a roster-building strategy; we are not saying that this information should override other important factors.
“Statistics, as we know, are only one piece of the puzzle in determining what makes an Overwatch player great, but we wanted to ensure that every great Overwatch player is presented to team owners on a level, transparent playing field for consideration.”
Nanzer also stresses that agreement by a player to share this information does not constitute a guarantee of a spot on an Overwatch League team. It is, however, a solid indication of that player’s dedication and skill at the game.
If you’d like to find out more about the competition, take a look at our Overwatch League guide, which contains everything we currently know about the game’s latest eSports developments.
