Esports organization Sign aligns with NTMR for the inception of an Overwatch 2 competitive team.
In a groundbreaking move, the blockchain-based organization Sign has partnered with esports club NTMR to form the Sign Esports Club for the Overwatch 2 scene. This collaboration, which marks the intersection of Web3 companies and digital competitive entertainment, is likely to become more prevalent within the global esports landscape as technology, sports, and media continue to blur.
The partnership was announced following the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) Mid-Season Championship. For the tournament and the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, NTMR's Overwatch 2 roster competed under the Sign Esports banner, wearing Sign-branded jerseys. However, after the conclusion of these events, the team will resume representing NTMR in subsequent OWCS stages, starting with OWCS Stage 3 later in 2025.
The strategic, time-limited arrangement was designed to boost the players’ performance and exposure. The team underwent intensive preparation, including a training bootcamp in South Korea before the tournaments under the Sign banner. This period of collaboration was met with varied reactions within the esports community, especially among NTMR's fanbase.
NTMR’s General Manager and CEO, Jack 'Fl4k' Ketchum, addressed the situation through a post on social media platform X, assuring supporters that he would continue backing the team during their time with Sign. Ketchum stated that the decision was made in the best interest of the players, emphasizing their potential for performance improvement and future professional growth.
The OWCS Mid-Season Championship, part of the larger EWC framework, is scheduled to run from July 31 to August 3, 2025. The prize pool for the tournament stands at a impressive $1 million. The Overwatch 2 team will wear newly designed Sign-branded orange jerseys and represent Sign Esports in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The collaboration between Sign and NTMR signals a deeper interest of Sign in the esports ecosystem. Victory in the OWCS Mid-Season Championship confers one of the most coveted titles in the Overwatch competitive circuit. The team will revert to competing under the NTMR name once the Overwatch Champions Series Stage 3 resumes later in the year. No additional plans beyond this reversion have been announced.
[1] Source: [Link to the official announcement or press release]
Sports-betting could potentially be introduced as part of the collaboration between Sign and NTMR, given that the partnership signals a deeper interest of Sign in the esports ecosystem. This move could attract more viewers and increase the revenue streams for both Sign and the esports club, especially during the Overwatch Champions Series events.
The success of such a strategy, if implemented, might encourage other Web3 companies to invest in sports-betting for esports teams, further blurring the lines between traditional sports and esports.
