Competitive Halo players rejoice – the game has its own eSports League, called Halo Championship Series, IGN writes. Announced today by 343 Industries, a division of Microsoft that oversees the development of the Halo series, the HCS (I wonder if this will be its official acronym) will initially focus on Halo 2: Anniversary, the newly re-imagined multiplayer engine within Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
The Halo Championship Series was born out of the desire for a quality eSports experience for professional players, enthusiasts and spectators by creating a single sanctioning body for Halo, 343’s announcement reads. The company – formerly known as Bungie, under the helm of creative director Frank O’Connor – has teamed up with Twitch (the world’s leading video platform and community for gamers), ESL (The eSports League) and various other tournament organizers to create a year of “high stake action”.
Here are some details 343 Industries has announced about the HCS:
- The first season of the HCS will start shortly after the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, running from November through March 2015.
- The participating teams will be composed of four Spartans, in a series of online and in-person LAN games.
- The top teams of the officially sanctioned tournaments (online and in-person LAN) will receive HCS points.
- At the end of the season the teams with the most point totals will be invited to the HCS season finals, that will take place in March 2015.
Further details about the Halo Championship Series will be announced soon.
“Halo is one of the most storied franchises in gaming and has such a rich eSports legacy. ESL brings a proven track record of hosting world class competitions and broadcasts and are excited to be an official partner of the Halo Championship Series. In 2015, the HCS will crown a new generation of Halo champions and showcase Halo to millions of eSports fans around the world.
Craig Levine, Vice President, ESL America