As Halo Infinite’s release day slowly approaches, so does the revival of its once thriving esports scene. The Halo Championship Series announced its lineup of partnered teams for the Halo Infinite launch on Aug. 30, with nine Partnered Teams representing the HCS scene.
These Teams will mark the new era of Halo Esports in terms of franchising; a format that multiple esports titles have partaken in. Call of Duty League, League of Legends and the Overwatch League have all formed franchises for a set number of teams. However, according to Tashi, Halo Esports Lead at Microsoft and 343 Industries, teams outside of the nine franchised Teams will be able to compete in Halo in this upcoming season.
“While these are the nine partnered Teams for launch, it’s important to keep in mind that we are an open ecosystem and we welcome all Teams around the world to jump in and participate if they choose to,” Tashi said in a Q&A about the program. “In fact, we have already been talking to quite a few Teams that are looking to jump in despite not being in the Partnership Program, which we are very thankful for.”
Over time, as the HCS expands, there will be more teams and regions added to the initial nine. This includes Latin America and Australia/ New Zealand. However, Tashi feels that it is important to first establish a steady esports base where Halo is the largest (North America/Europe). Some teams have already announced their rosters for the 2022 season, and teams will be updated as more information becomes available. Once the Halo Championship Series reveals more details about its format and schedule, that information will also be included.
We're proud to present your #HCS Partnered Teams for the launch of #HaloInfinite!@Cloud9@Envy@eUnited@FaZeClan@FNATIC@G2esports@natusvincere@Sentinels@Spacestation pic.twitter.com/afDk687v0m
— Halo Esports (@HCS) August 30, 2021
Cloud9
Roster:
- Zane “Penguin” Hearon
- Kevin “Eco” Smith
- Jonathan “Renegade” Willette
- Braedon “StelluR” Boettcher
Envy
Roster:
- Justin “iGotUrPistola” Deese
- Bradley “aPG” Laws
- Tommy “Saiyan” Wilson
- Joey “TriPPPeY” Taylor
eUnited
Roster:
- Tyler “Spartan” Ganza
- Ryan “RyaNoob” Geddes
- Nick “KingNick” Panzella
- Timothy “Rayne” Tinkler
FaZe Clan
Roster:
- TBD
Fnatic
Roster:
- TBD
G2 Esports
Roster:
- TBD
Natus Vincere
Roster:
- TBD
Sentinels
Roster:
- Paul “SnakeBite” Duarte
- Bradley “Frosty” Bergstrom
- Tony “LethuL” Campbell Jr.
- Mathew “Royal2” Fiorante
- Chris “Royal1” Fiorante (Coach)
Spacestation Gaming
Roster:
- TBD
