“This (the H1Z1 pro league) is also a huge opportunity for us to introduce millions of new players and fans to H1Z1 as we exit early access and go free-to-play,” Castoro said.

Along with the exit from early access came a new game mode, “Auto Royale,” in which teams of players compete in battle royale matches from the seats of in-game vehicles. The game saw it’s official release at the end of February, after three years in “early access,” during which the game was for sale but still in active development. The free-to-play and esports announcements come on the heels of another big milestone for H1Z1. And all of these companies are investing in large ways in this kind of content, and they see H1Z1 and battle royale as a way to blaze a new path for eSports.” “Facebook is a mass market opportunity, a mass market play. “All of our partners are very serious about a new way to do esports and bring it to the masses,” H1Z1 General Manager Anthony Castoro told Digital Trends.

The inaugural season of the H1Z1 pro league, the first esports league to focus on the battle royale genre, starts on April 21. Daybreak has also signed 15 teams to compete.

The developer is partnering with Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas to provide the venue for the league, and with Facebook to broadcast games. Along with the decision to go free-to-play, Daybreak announced new additions to its H1Z1 pro league, which it first laid out back in October. H1Z1 is looking to differentiate itself through a focus on competitive play and esports.

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