THE OVERWATCH LEAGUE™ AND UPPER DECK SIGN MULTI-YEAR EXCLUSIVE TRADING CARD AND COLLECTIBLES DEAL

First-ever official esports league license grants Upper Deck exclusive rights to trading cards, prints, posters, stickers, and memorabilia

CARLSBAD, Ca. (May 13, 2019) – Upper Deck and the Overwatch League™ today announced a multi-year deal for licensed collectibles that includes the world’s first-ever official esports league trading card release as well as stickers, sticker books, prints, posters and memorabilia. The collaboration with the Overwatch League marks the first venture into esports for Upper Deck.

Overwatch League fans will now be able to buy, open, collect, and trade cards with other collectors across the globe through Upper Deck e-Pack™, the patent-pending platform that allows fans to easily access trading card packs from anywhere in the world using a smart phone, tablet, or computer. What makes the e-Pack system truly unique is the ability for users to get actual physical versions of cards sent directly to them at any time.

The first Overwatch League-licensed trading card set will release on June 19, 2019, on UpperDeckEpack.com and will showcase fan-favorite players and teams from the league’s inaugural season. Highlights include rare cards autographed by multiple players, cards featuring key moments from the 2018 season, and cards incorporating other league memorabilia. Through the e-Pack platform, collectors will also be introduced to an extensive achievement system where they can earn exclusive avatars, relic shadowbox cards featuring match-used equipment, autographed jerseys, multi-player booklet cards, and more.

Attendees at the upcoming Overwatch League 2019 All-Stars events will be treated to sneak-preview promo packs of the highly anticipated Overwatch League trading card release, and will have the opportunity to jumpstart their digital collection with two exclusive All-Star themed hero cards available for a limited time via a QR code located in the 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,” said Daniel Siegel, head of esports licensing at Blizzard Entertainment. “This is an awesome milestone for our companies, and for esports as a whole.”

Find out more about the launch of the new Overwatch League-licensed trading cards from Upper Deck at UpperDeck.com/OWL.

About Upper Deck

The Upper Deck Company, headquartered in Carlsbad, California, is a worldwide sports and entertainment company built on the pillars of quality craftsmanship, authenticity and innovation, with a dedication to creating products that turn memorable moments into collectibles. Upper Deck is home to the world’s greatest athletes, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, Connor McDavid, LeBron James and Ben Simmons.

Find more information at www.upperdeck.com, www.UpperDeckBlog.com or follow us on Facebook (UDAuthenticated), Instagram (UpperDeckSports), Twitter (@UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (udvids).

About the Overwatch League™

The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional esports league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Overwatch® was created by globally acclaimed publisher Blizzard Entertainment (a division of Activision Blizzard—NASDAQ: ATVI), whose iconic franchises have helped lay the foundations and push the boundaries of professional esports over the last 15 years. The latest addition to Blizzard’s stable of twenty-two #1 games,[1] Overwatch was built from the ground up for online competition, with memorable characters and fast-paced action designed for the most engaging gameplay and spectator experiences. To learn more about the Overwatch League, visit www.overwatchleague.com.

About Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues

Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues (ABEL) is responsible for the development and operation of premier Activision Blizzard professional gaming properties including the Overwatch League™ and the Call of Duty® World League, as well as the commercialization of the entire Blizzard Esports portfolio. Launched in 2017, the Overwatch League is the world’s first major global esports league with city-based teams, with 20 teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2019, the Call of Duty World League Presented by PlayStation®4 will deliver five vs. five team play featuring Call of Duty®: Black Ops 4. It is ABEL’s vision to be the most innovative, scalable, and valuable developer of global competitive entertainment.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Overwatch®, the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the multi-franchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (https://www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes twenty-two #1 games[1] and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's online gaming service, Blizzard Battle.net®, is one of the largest online-gaming services in the world, with millions of active players.

© 2019 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. OVERWATCH, OVERWATCH LEAGUE, BLIZZARD, and BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT are trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.