Pan-Seung 'Fate' Koo and Indy 'Space' Halpern from the L.A. Valiant Overwatch League team.
Robert Paul for Blizzard EntertainmentHigh-end gaming hardware maker Razer just picked its team in the Overwatch League: the L.A. Valiant.
The sponsorship deal is part of a larger partnership between Razer and Valiant parent company Immortals, based in Los Angeles. Immortals teams also compete in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, DOTA2, Super Smash Brothers and mobile esports Clash Royale and Arena of Valor. Those last two are notable, because while all the teams get peripherals as part of the sponsorship, mobile players get Razer's swanky-looking phones as well.
The Overwatch League is in its first season, having launched in January. It consists of regional teams from around the world playing Blizzard's popular team-based shooter Overwatch, and has brought national-level attention to esports alongside leagues in more-traditional games (including CS:GO.)
Both companies had the typical nice things to say about each other as part of the announcement this morning. The Valiant and the Seoul Dynasty are Razer's sponsored teams in the OWL.
"Team Razer is committed to fostering a roster of passionate and truly ambitious esports players," Razer co-founder and chief executive Min-Liang Tan said in a statement. "Immortals and L.A. Valiant exude a caliber of excellence that makes our partnership with them a natural fit, and one that we are very excited to support."
Immortals' response:
"Razer has long established its bona fides as a true lifestyle brand across gaming and esports," said Noah Whinston, chief executive of Immortals and the Los Angeles Valiant. "We're very excited to embark on the journey with Razer to field test its peripherals line and new mobile gaming phone for both peak gaming performance and in everyday life."
The Valiant have a 17-11 record thus far in the OWL, which puts them in a tie at #5 for overall record behind New York, Boston, London and Seoul. The team is one of two representing the Los Angeles area (the other is the Gladiators), and like all teams in the League this spring, plays all its games at the Blizzard Arena in Burbank.
