This past weekend saw the San Francisco Shock take home the Overwatch League Stage 2 trophy, and now a new press release has announced that the competition has partnered with Upper Deck in a multi-year deal that'll see the latter produce esports league trading carders as well as stickers, prints, posters, and more.
This is Upper Deck's first movement into esports, and the Upper Deck e-Packs will let you access cards using mobile devices and computers. This also lets you get physical versions of cards sent to you at any time, with the first of these sets being released on June 19 via the Upper Deck site.
Of course these cards will show players from the league, but you can get rare cards autographed by certain individuals, cards featuring key moments from the 2018 season, and more. There's even an achievement in the e-Pack system to earn avatars and relic shadowbox cards, granting match-used equipment, jerseys, and more.
The All-Stars Event this month will give a sneak peek at these cards, with two All-Star exclusive themed cards available via a QR code on sample packs.
"We are very excited to collaborate with the Overwatch League for our first esports deal and to deliver new and innovative products to Overwatch League fans everywhere," said Jason Masherah, president of Upper Deck. "This is a great way to celebrate Upper Deck's 30th anniversary, and we look forward to working with the talented team at Activision Blizzard for many years to come."
"Collaborating with Upper Deck allows the Overwatch League to offer fans everywhere the opportunity to collect and trade exclusive cards and collectibles—featuring their favorite teams and players—that can be cherished for years to come," added Daniel Siegel, head of esports licensing at Blizzard Entertainment. "This is an awesome milestone for our companies, and for esports as a whole."
Should there be more esports trading cards?