IBM says it is making its first foray into esports via a new deal with Overwatch League, where it will showcase its Watson AI system and cloud computing products. The deal, announced this morning, starts with the ongoing '20 OWL Grand Finals, plus the '21 and '22 seasons. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the deal, IBM becomes the official AI, cloud and analytics partner of OWL. OWL will use IBM’s suite of analytics tools to process in-match data, find new ways to showcase stats, improve the league’s ranking systems and create predictive analysis. Activision Blizzard Esports CRO Brandon Snow: “We’re constantly striving to give fans the ability to more meaningfully engage with the Overwatch League, and teaming up with IBM enables us to do just that.” IBM VP/Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Noah Syken: “The solutions we’re partnering to create can help the organizations, players, and fans enjoy an even more immersive, engaging experience.”
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: VENTUREBEAT.com's Dean Takahashi writes this deal is a "sign esports is starting to demand the most sophisticated cloud and AI technologies." Takahashi: "With esports on the road to becoming a mainstream phenomenon alongside traditional sports, we can expect to see more of this kind of marriage in the future." FORBES' Kris Holt: "Anyone who’s watched an Overwatch League broadcast, especially in the last year or so, will know that Blizzard does a great job of using stats to provide context and tell stories." REUTERS: "This is IBM’s first foray into the world of esports, but the 109-year-old company has been a part of gaming history as a hardware manufacturer, chip creator, and software provider since 1985."
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