Latest news with #Overwatch2
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mt. Aloysius hosts Pennsylvania high school students for esports finals
CRESSON, Pa. (WTAJ) — High school athletes across Pennsylvania traveled to Mt. Aloysius College to compete in a statewide finals for esports. The PIEA Grand Finals had over 160 players from 36 different schools across the area compete in video game matchups in Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The weekend-long competition will crown the top individuals in each game while educating the players in careers and opportunities in the world of esports. 'Mountie Esports is super excited to have everyone here,' Mt. Aloysius Esports Head Coach Sean Steffy said. Players got a chance to watch others compete in each matchup via the viewing room or in person. If not competing, the players socialized and bonded with one another over the sport that was not mainstream in years prior. 'The growth is seen year over year,' Seth Mason, the founder of The Esport Company, said. 'It's exploding. And the number one fact I'd like to see as well, that really makes this tie into the schools and the youth, is70% of students who report here in Pennsylvania aren't involved in any selectivity, except for the esports program. So this is engaging a whole demographic of kids that have been overlooked for the past 25 years.'The competition runs until Sunday at 6 p.m. You can watch the livestream here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab News
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Twisted Minds defend Overwatch 2 crown at ESL Saudi Challenge 2025
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's top Overwatch 2 team, Twisted Minds, have once again stamped their authority on the national stage, successfully defending their title at the ESL Saudi Challenge 2025, held at Riyadh's VOV Gaming Arena. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The high-octane finale saw Twisted Minds overcome a fierce challenge from Al-Qadsiah, who went into the match with a lot of momentum after a decisive win against Team Vision in the semifinals. The final matchup was a showcase of strategy and execution, with Twisted Minds ultimately pulling ahead through superior coordination and championship composure. With the win, they not only retained the title but also secured a berth in the Overwatch Champions Series, the official qualifier for the Esports World Cup. They also claimed the top prize from a $20,000 pool. The ESL Saudi Challenge, launched by ESL FACEIT Group, is part of a broader push to elevate the competitive gaming scene in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Designed as both a platform for talent and a pipeline to international competitions, the tournament reflects the Kingdom's growing role in the global esports ecosystem. 'The ESL Saudi Challenge is a cornerstone in our long-term commitment to building a thriving and sustainable esports ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region,' said Franck Guignery, the group's senior vice president for MENA. 'Through this tournament, we're not only creating high-level competitive opportunities for local talent but also reinforcing the Kingdom's role as a key player on the global esports map. 'This is just the beginning, we see Saudi and MENA as essential to the future of competitive gaming and we're here to help shape that future.' As Twisted Minds prepare to represent Saudi Arabia in the OWCS, the Kingdom's position as a force in international esports continues to grow. With strategic investments, a strong talent pool and quality infrastructure, the country is no longer just part of the global esports movement it is helping to lead it.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bethesda Devs Win First-Ever Union Contract In The Country At A Major Gaming Company After Threatening Strike
ZeniMax Workers United just became the first game developer union in the country to win a contract at a major publisher. The group of over 300 quality assurance testers across franchises like Fallout and Doom secured an agreement with Microsoft that includes wage increases, salary minimums, and crediting procedures. 'Video games have been the revenue titan of the entire entertainment industry for years, and the workers who develop these games are too often exploited for their passion and creativity. Organizing unions, bargaining for a contract, and speaking with one collective voice has allowed workers to take back the autonomy we all deserve,' ZeniMax QA tester and bargaining committee member Jessee Leese said in a press release. 'Our first contract is an invitation for video game professionals everywhere to take action. We're the ones who make these games, and we'll be the ones to set new standards for fair treatment.' The contract will now go to the full membership for review with a ratification vote planned for June 20. Once completed, ZeniMax devs, including staff at Bethesda Game Studios, will have won the first collective bargaining agreement of any of the major gaming unions that have formed in recent years. Sega of America staff are also currently in negotiations for a contract, as are developers at other Microsoft-owned studios including the Overwatch 2 and World of Warcraft teams at Blizzard as well as Call of Duty testers at Raven Software. The ZeniMax contract comes just two months after union employees there threatened to go on strike if an agreement wasn't reached following a nearly two-year-long negotiation process. The Communications Workers of America, which represents ZeniMax Workers United and other Microsoft gaming unions, previously filed an unfair labor practice charge against the tech giant claiming it was slow-walking the talks. The new contract, once ratified, will provide important benchmarks for other teams currently hashing out agreements. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
After Six Years, Overwatch 2 Finally Acknowledges Soldier: 76's Gay Ex-Boyfriend Again
Way back in 2019, Blizzard confirmed that Soldier: 76, Overwatch's grumpy grandpa, is a member of the queer community. The titular organization's ex-commander, whose real name is Jack Morrison, is gay and was involved with a man named Vincent many years before the events of the game. This was revealed in a short story called 'Bastet,' which focused on him and Ana, who were close comrades during the group's heyday. In the story, Morrison reflects on his old flame, and it sounds like the two split because Soldier was so dedicated to the group's cause that it put a strain on their relationship. But the game itself hasn't really acknowledged Soldier's long-lost love outside of a spray of the two giving each other the Christian Side Hug. That's finally changed in Overwatch 2's 16th season. Blizzard periodically adds new pre-match interactions between its heroes with the start of a new season and in the big mid-season patch, often spotlighting a handful of characters with each new wave, rather than adding something for all 40+ heroes at once. And with season 16, which started late last month, Soldier: 76 is one of the characters to benefit. The latest wave includes a conversation with Baptiste, who playfully asks if anyone has ever 'captured the heart' of the grizzled vigilante. Soldier doesn't mention Vincent by name, but does say there was someone, and laments that he hasn't seen him 'in a long time.' Baptiste apologizes for bringing up bad memories, but Soldier says that 'these days, that's all [he's] got.' Shot me right through the heart, Blizzard. Thanks for that. tiktok-7507005230454820138 It's been so long since we first learned that Vincent existed, some folks in the comments of videos featuring the conversation are assuming it's about Reaper, with whom fans have shipped Soldier: 76 for almost a decade. For several years, Overwatch 2's handling of queer themes existed in a weird place of plausible deniability. It came up in external media, but was rarely acknowledged in the game itself, to the point where you could push payloads without ever once having to consider that Tracer was a lesbian or Soldier was gay. In recent years, Blizzard has made a pretty concentrated effort to be more explicit about all the LGBTQ+ characters on its roster. 2023 was a real turning point for the game, starting with the release of Lifeweaver who was confirmed as a pansexual character at launch. In June, the game got its first Pride event, which confirmed a few more queer heroes, added Pride flag cosmetics, and updated the Midtown map to cover it in rainbows for a Pride parade. Venture, the shooter's first non-binary hero, was announced at Blizzcon that year and released in the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Top team to be crowned at ESL Saudi Challenge grand final
RIYADH: The ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 reaches a thrilling climax this Friday at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia's top Overwatch 2 teams are set to battle for regional supremacy and a place on the global stage. The high-stakes tournament will see Team Vision take on Al-Qadsiah in a best-of-five showdown, with the winner advancing to face reigning champions Twisted Minds in a best-of-seven grand final. With qualification for the Overwatch Champions Series and the Esports World Cup at stake, the event is being hailed as a defining moment for the Kingdom's esports scene. This year's ESL Saudi Challenge is playing a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's evolving esports ecosystem. More than just a tournament, it serves as a direct pathway to international competition while highlighting the rising caliber of local talent. Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, the world's leading esports and video game entertainment company, the tournament reflects the Kingdom's broader ambitions to become a global gaming hub. EFG was acquired in 2022 by Savvy Games Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, in a $1.5 billion deal aimed at accelerating the growth of esports in the region. The ESL Saudi Challenge is a key pillar in that strategy, with EFG also serving as the main operating partner for the Esports World Cup over the next five years. The group's involvement marks a long-term vision to build a world-class esports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and provide new opportunities for players, fans and creators alike. Viewers can tune in to the action live on ESL Arabia's official channels across X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. As anticipation builds for Friday's final, the event promises not only elite-level Overwatch 2 gameplay, but a powerful statement of intent from a nation rapidly becoming a leader in global esports.
