The year 2025 is shaping up to be a watershed moment for esports, marked by unprecedented innovation, financial challenges and global expansion.
At the start of the year, Esports Insider interviewed major figures in esports about the prospects for the discipline in 2025. After a year 2024 marked by strong moments, the industry is preparing for a major transformation.
Between regulations and innovations
Valve is preparing to review the rules of its Counter-Strike ecosystem, directly impacting BLAST and ESL. For its part, Riot Games is enriching the competitive League of Legends universe with two new leagues and a third annual international tournament.
“In 2025, esports will become a lasting cultural force”says Steve Arhancet, PDG of Team Liquid. “We will see a clear separation between solid companies and those pursuing superficial objectives. »
Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality, highlights another issue: “The gap between the leaders and the challengers will widen, but the best teams will finally achieve financial stability. »
The rise of mobile
Mobile gaming is emerging as a growth engine. Faisal Binhomran (Esports World Cup Foundation) explains: “Titles like Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile will continue to dominate, thanks to their accessibility and advancements in handheld devices. »
Hicham Chahine, CEO of Ninjas in Pajamas, shares this opinion: “Mobile games are becoming pillars of the global ecosystem. Their popularity continues to grow. »
Priorities and challenges
Financial stability and monetization are the priorities. Daniel Finkler, CEO of BIG, insists: “Fair revenue sharing between publishers, teams and organizers is vital for sustainable growth. »
Steve Arhancet adds: “We need to develop monetization systems that are direct, natural and engaging for fans. »
A more inclusive industry
The development of local talent remains crucial. Animesh Agarwal (S8UL) specifies: “Gateways for amateur players are essential to ensure a constant pipeline of talent. »
Craig Levine (ESL FACEIT Group) reiterates the importance of communities: “Refocusing efforts on local players will be decisive for the future. »
A decisive year
2025 promises to be full of promises and challenges. Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, sums up: “This year, esports will show the world its potential, with even higher standards. »
With ambitious projects and major advances, esports is ready to take a new step.