Talking OWCS and Calling All Heroes with Bailey McCann: “We’re trying to have a much more accessible and open ecosystem where anyone’s able to play.”

DreamHack Dallas 2024 hosts the inaugural Overwatch Champion Series (OWCS) Major that features the top eight teams. Bailey McCann, the OWCS and Calling All Heroes product lead at Activision Blizzard, played a key role in organizing the circuit. We sat down with McCann for an interview!

All seats were taken whenever DreamHack attendees entered the OWCS area. The event's large crowd even prompted the staff to add more seating. To McCann, in-person events like this are something magical.

"It is so nice to see people in person, their smiles, honestly being able to walk by the Overwatch hall. And there were so many people crowding our area. The stage is just awesome," McCann said.

She continued, noting that while the OWCS is a new chapter of Overwatch 2 esports, there are a lot players from the old guard mixed with amateur players either on the same teams or going against each other. "I think that makes the matches really exciting. Europe has its own region for the first time in a while. So I think that's really exciting to watch those teams representing their region on the big stage."

Having dedicated regions for Europe and Asia, with sub-regions in Korea, Japan, and the Pacific, along with region locking, ensures that local talent can compete within their own areas, she continued.

When it comes to McCann's work, representation also goes beyond different regions. In the interview with esports.gg, she revealed how fans have walked up to her throughout DreamHack Dallas to express their gratitude for Calling all Heroes. Calling All Heroes is a competitive circuit that champions gender inclusivity and marginalized gender identities. Having a space where they can enjoy their hobby while getting to be their authentic selves makes McCann's work all worth it.

"I think the visibility really helps," she continued. "It makes people talk about things, and I think dialogue really makes people feel more welcome."

The OWCS is the successor of the Overwatch League, with the latter circuit concluding in the 2023 Grand Finals. McCann shared insights about the transition from the old circuit to OWCS. She explained that starting any esports program involves educating the fan base in terms of making them aware of what's happening and helping them know where to go.

Establishing this type of routine is a challenge because fans are used to specific schedules and streaming channels. However, the excitement of a new program means opportunities for new storylines. Drawing from her experience with Calling All Heroes, McCann noted that it was a similar journey to start from scratch and gradually build up storylines over time.

"With the OWCS, we're trying to have a much more accessible and open ecosystem where anyone's able to play and just get involved," McCann continued. "You can join one of our open qualifiers and go all the way up to the top."

Another part of being in the OWCS community is the option to purchase a crowdfunding bundle to support the Dallas Major's prize pool. To McCann, the community-focused approach is all about making fans feel engaged. "And I think crowdfunding is a great way for fans to reach our product. You can directly contribute, and there's just so many different ways to engage in Overwatch esports."

McCann then emphasized the openness to community and player feedback, especially after the open qualifiers in North America and Europe. For example, her team asked players what they liked, disliked, and what could be improved. One adjustment the OWCS made was switching from a map veto system to a loser's pick format.

"After each map, the loser picks the next map, which for Overwatch has a pretty big impact in helping the series be more exciting and more competitive," McCann said.

In terms of what McCann hopes for the future of OWCS, she told esports.gg that she wants to keep building engaging storylines and regional rivalries in Overwatch 2 esports, especially involving both veteran and new players. She also wants to see more fan engagement and growth through events like DreamHack.

"For me, I just want you to see that grow and get bigger and bigger and see more fans coming out here," she added.

As for parting words, McCann encouraged fans to tune in for the Calling All Heroes Major 1 tournament.

"Calling All Heroes starts next weekend for our first season for 2024-2025. It's our first major of the circuit, which I think will be fun," she said.

That's all for now. Stick around on esports.gg for more Overwatch 2 interviews, news, and updates!