Blizzard strikes exclusive deal with Facebook for 'Heroes of the Dorm'

Blizzard Entertainment announced details of its competitive video game tournament Heroes of the Dorm, including an exclusive partnership with Facebook to stream the event through Facebook Live.

In a statement released Wednesday, Blizzard said group stages of the tournament, which features their online multiplayer game Heroes of the Storm, will start in February. The playoffs run through March, with the Championship taking place on April 8.

Blizzard is promising a lot more connectivity surrounding the tournament, entering its third year. The publisher says the live experience will support real-time interaction and up-to-date statistic. As with previous years, Blizzard will host a Bracket Challenge, where viewers can win prizes by correctly guessing the winning teams.

"Heroes of the Dorm has featured some of the most dramatic college esports action of the past two years, and with more prizes for more teams up for grabs this year, we’re looking forward to a whole new level of competition,” said Blizzard co-founder and CEO Mike Morhaime in a statement.

College video game players from the United States and Canada are eligible for the event. The tournament hands out more than $500,000 in scholarships and prizes. Signups kick off Wednesday.

During the first two years of Heroes of the Dorm, action was carried by ESPN, both through its streaming services and on its cable networks. It's not clear whether the streaming partnership with Facebook still allows for a TV broadcast on ESPN or other network.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.