Today we have some exciting news to share about the expansion of the HCS - particularly with the Team Partnership Program.

Before getting into that however, we know right now the competitive community has a growing list of feedback ranging from weapon balance, more maps/modes, continued updates to ranked and anti-cheat, and more. This blog is not the place to get into those details, but we felt it was still important to acknowledge this feedback and say the various teams at 343 are working diligently on everything listed above and more.

To hear more about what the studio is working on and what to expect in Season 2, head on over to the blog Joseph Staten released earlier today which can be found HERE. Thank you for your continued support and patience!

Team Partnership Program

On the HCS league side, we’ve seen record viewership, participation, and attendance since launch. Halo esports has never seen this level of support and we can’t help but feel grateful to everyone in the ecosystem from fans to players to partners who are all working together to make Halo esports the success it’s been so far. This community has grown immensely.

Another area that’s been a breakout success has been the Team Partnership Program and today we’re excited to announce that the program is officially expanding. In Year 2 of HCS we’re going to be adding 1-3 more partnered Teams into the program and the application window for aspiring Teams is open starting TODAY.

There are many Teams looking to get into the partnership program and while we wish we could bring them all in right away, we are committed to a slow and steady approach with a long-term vision. It’s critical that we don’t expand too quickly, and we are methodically expanding based on the metrics and success that we are seeing and proving out as we go.

To learn more about what the application process entails, the deadlines, and how to submit, please see the form HERE.

UPCOMING EVENTS

As a reminder, this weekend we are hosting the HCS Supers for ANZ and MX, including an English stream for MX. All new Twitch Drops will be available all weekend long so make sure your accounts are linked and keep an eye on @HCS on Twitter for more details. Later this month we’ll also be hosting the EU Super which will be the last regional final event that leads into the next live event, the Kansas City Major.

The Kansas City Major will take place on April 29 – May 1 and will be an open event just like the Raleigh Major. We will have more details to share next week including information on when VIP, Spectator tickets, as well as Team Passes go on sale. As always, we will continue to monitor and adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines as we get closer to the event but based on current information we are planning to move forward with hosting the event.

Once again, thank you to everyone in the Halo community and ecosystem for supporting Halo esports. Growing this community and providing amazing entertainment to watch is why we do this.

Thanks,

Tashi