ESL announces Halo Championship Series league

The Halo Championship Series league will be governed by a single sanctioning body, an idea born of 343 Industries' desire to curate a quality esports experience for pro players, enthusiasts and spectators alike. In order to achieve this, 343 Industries and ESL have teamed up to put together a year of high-stakes action featuring Halo 2: Anniversary, the newly reimagined multiplayer engine within Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Halo Championship Series Details:

 · The first season of the Halo Championship Series will kick off shortly after the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and run from November (preseason) through March of 2015.

 · Teams of four Spartans will compete in a structured series of online and in-person LAN events.

 · All officially sanctioned tournaments (LAN and online) will award HCS points to the top teams.

 · At the end of each season, teams with the highest HCS point totals will be invited to compete at the HCS season finals in March 2015. More details to be announced.

"Halo is one of the most storied franchises in gaming and has such a rich eSports legacy," said Craig Levine, Vice President, ESL America. "ESL brings a proven track record of hosting world class competitions and broadcasts and are excited to be an official partner of the Halo Championship Series. In 2015, the HCS will crown a new generation of Halo champions and showcase Halo to millions of eSports fans around the world."

More information regarding the Halo Championship Series will be released at the Halo: The Master Chief Collection Launch Invitational, taking place this weekend from November 8-9th. Thirty-two of the world's biggest names in First Person Shooter (FPS) esports will face off in the ESL Studios (Burbank, CA) for their share of the US$50,000 prize pool. Tune in at 2PM PST to catch all the action and learn more about what's in store for the future of Halo esports.