Win.gg
News
New rules, regulations announced for Stage 2 of 2019 Overwatch League New rules, regulations announced for Stage 2 of 2019 Overwatch League
The Overwatch League Stage 1 playoffs kick off soon, but fans have some fun new additions to look forward to for Stage 2.
The rules and regulations for the next stage of the 2019 season were revealed on the official
OWL website. The changes will hit a number of different fronts, introducing a new patch, a new schedule, and a fresh lineup of maps.
The biggest change will come with the OWL adopting the 1.34 patch. The highlight of the update is the addition of new hero Baptiste, who is expected to shake up the entire pro Overwatch scene.
This will likely mark the end of the GOATS meta. OWL fans have been frustrated throughout the 2019 season as teams exclusively field lineups of tank and support heroes. Many games have been reduced to mirror matches of Reinhardt, Lucio, Zarya, Moira, Brigette, and D.va, with little variation. Though none of these heroes were outright nerfed, the 1.34 update brings buffs to most DPS heroes which will hopefully result in a more dynamic experience from game to game.
There will also be multiple changes to the league’s maps. The order of matches has been changed to control, assault, hybrid, and escort, with an additional control tiebreaker if necessary. This reduces the likelihood of matches being determined midway through the third map.
The map rotation has also been heavily changed, There are once again 12 total maps in the Stage 2 pool with three options for each different game mode. Stage 2 will feature just four of the maps that were used in Stage 1, with new assault map Paris being the most noteworthy addition.
Stage 2 will also introduce new tiebreakers for teams with identical records. This comes following a pair of seeding tiebreakers for the Stage 1 playoffs, which included a coin flip deciding the standing of the Toronto Defiant and Philadelphia Fusion. No hints were given on what will break these ties in the future, with the announcement simply promising more specifics at a later date.
Finally, OWL matches have generally run longer than was initially expected, which has resulted in changes to the league’s daily scheduling. New times can be found on the
OWL website.
Stage 2 of the 2019 season kicks off on April 4 with a showdown between New York Excelsior and Philadelphia Fusion.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
News
Mexican lawmakers target Sony over digital-only PlayStation games plans
Khizar Mundia
Video game giant Sony announced that it would stop producing new physical PlayStation games starting in 2028, which sparked an intense debate about digital ownership. This shift isn’t new to the industry, but a complete move to a digital-only games model by a major player isn’t a small thing. If Sony can make the move successfully, it's possible that other companies will follow. Digital game ownership is murky right now, ...
Twitch
iShowSpeed wins FIFA Creator Cup, offers to play for India in 2030
Khizar Mundia
The ongoing World Cup tour by Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. has been full of ups and downs, but the latest standout moment saw the streamer win a trophy before his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the American even offered to play for India in the 2030 World Cup. iShowSpeed has been attending and livestreaming the FIFA World Cup 2026 thanks to his partnership with FIFA, Fox, and YouTube. He has shared ...
News
France vs Spain prediction markets and preview: can Les Bleus reach another World Cup final?
Ben Boland
The 2026 World Cup in its extended format has provided one of the most memorable tournaments in living memory, but from 48 teams we are now down to the final four, and it is probably the four strongest teams remaining. The semi-final lineup in the United States sees France vs Spain and England vs Argentina with all teams having a strong shout to win the iconic trophy. The first match ...
Twitch
Kai Cenat reveals he’ll do another marathon with iShowSpeed
Khizar Mundia
Twitch creator Kai Cenat's recent return to streaming has been packed full of action so far with the launch of Streamer University 2026, and the American has now revealed that he is planning another marathon with Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. iShowSpeed and Kai Cenat announced a Minecraft marathon back in August 2024; Kai streamed the marathon on Twitch, while iShowSpeed was live on YouTube. The two creators were streaming in ...
Slots
A Look at Le Prechaun, Hacksaw Gaming’s Latest Outing for Smokey
Ian John
If you follow the output from Hacksaw Gaming, then you will be familiar with their popular “Le” series of games, featuring the recurring character Smokey the Raccoon. The latest incarnation in the series sees Smokey heading to the beautiful verdant countryside of Ireland in the aptly named Le Prechaun slot, which hits casinos on the July 16, 2026. With pots of gold and lucky clovers, Le Prechaun continues the trend ...
Big Wins
Here’s a round-up of what Kick gambling streamers won in the second week of July
Hannan Mundia
July has been a month marked by thrilling 2026 World Cup action so far, but it is fair to say that casino streamers have also been very active on Kick, with the second week seeing multiple huge wins. The last seven days were extremely eventful, especially in the online gambling community. Most streamers were busy attempting to win big with their World Cup predictions, though it isn’t a stretch to ...
Twitch
Is Twitch fast-tracking Partner status for Kai Cenat’s Streamer University participants?
Khizar Mundia
Kai Cenat’s Streamer University 2026 is set to be one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and it has already generated plenty of excitement and debate online. The latest discussion centers on reports that some participants may have had their Twitch Partner applications fast-tracked, sparking further speculation that the platform is backing the event. Kai Cenat is one of the most recognizable content creators in the world and ...
