Activation Blizzard and Google have joined an agreement to broadcast live broadcasts on esports, including Overwatch League, Call of Duty League, and Hearthstone Esports, on YouTube. Blizzard Entertainment previously dealt with Twitch streaming stores and live competitions.
As part of the agreement, Activision Blizzard's online games will use Google Cloud "to deliver a high-quality, low-quality player experience," according to joint news from the companies. That includes server infrastructure for hosting games.
Activation Blizzard and Google are already collaborating on other publisher's mobile topics, the companies said. The expanded partnership will use Google's global cloud services to offer "fully customizable integrations, as Blizzard activation can tap Google Cloud's AI tools to offer customized gameplay preferences."
The multi-year agreement also means that Overwatch League for Blizzard Entertainment has a new home. While the first two seasons of the Esports league are broadcasting, the 2020 season will be broadcast on YouTube (outside China) starting February 8th.
The first season of Call of Duty League – which begins Friday – will also air on YouTube, with the official competitions of Bethizstone Esports.