The Halo Championship 2025 is the biggest Halo esports event of the year and the crown jewel of the esports scene. The best Halo Infinite players from across the globe will return to Seattle for the HCS’ biggest prize.

The Halo Championship Series (HCS) has announced that it will retire Halo Infinite at the end of the 2025 season. This makes the Championship 2025 the last to use the game, and it promises to be a celebration of Halo unlike any other.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Halo World Championship 2025, including its schedule, participating teams, structure, prize pool, and how to watch the event. 

As the biggest HCS event of the season, Halo World Champs 2025 takes place towards the end of the year. It will begin on October 24 and end on October 26, with all tickets for the event already sold out.

The Halo World Championships 2025 is the final HCS event of the season, and will thus be the esports swansong for Halo Infinite.

There will be 16 teams competing for the biggest prize that the Halo Championship Series has to offer, beginning with a pool play stage. The teams and the regions they represent are as follows in seeding order:

The qualified teams are seeded depending on three factors: performance in the recent Charlotte Major, which determines the top eight, global HCS points, which decides seeds 9 to 12, and the last chance qualifiers, which make up seeds 13 to 16.

Teams qualifying for the Halo World Champs 2025 through their Charlotte Major position are ranked purely for that. Only teams that did not finish in the top eight at Charlotte need to rely on HCS points or last chance qualifying to be a part of the tournament.

The Halo World Championship 2025 is a 4v4 tournament that will begin with a 16-team pool play stage, essentially acting as a group stage. There are four pools, and the 4th placed team in each of these pools will be eliminated. The remaining 12 will advance to the Champ Bracket.

This Champ Bracket stage is double-elimination, each match being a best-of-five until the final championship match, which is a best-of-seven.

Outside the main 4v4 tournament, there is also the Halo Infinite free-for-all, with qualification taking place on-site, on a first-come, first-served basis. Those on-site should also look out for the Halo Community Stage, providing a ‘Halo-fest’ type of experience and eight hours of programming each day.

Those who were unable to get tickets before they sold out will be able to follow the Halo World Championships on official broadcasts:

The Halo World Championship 2025 prize pool is split into two sections, one for the main 4v4 tournament and one for the free-for-all. The 4v4 tournament has a total prize pool of $1,000,000, which is split up as follows:

The free-for-all tournament has a much smaller prize pool of $25,000, although these winnings don’t need to be split up by a team and are distributed as follows:

The Halo World Championship 2025 is a must-watch for all Halo fans, whether it be for the esports tournaments or Community Stage. It is the apex of the Halo Championship Series and promises to close out 2025 with a bang while also providing Halo Infinite with its competitive swansong. With Halo esports making a comeback, now is the perfect time to get involved with the scene through the World Championship.

League of Legends: Wild Rift and aespa member Ningning have announced a collaborative song set to drop in the near future.

According to the teaser graphic on Weibo, the collaboration will likely be titled ‘Miss this life’.

K-pop group aespa made its debut in November 2020 with its hit single ‘Black Mamba’. Its members, Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning, have released numerous successful songs since, popoularising the metaverse concept and hyperpop music in K-pop.

Ningning, or Ning Yizhuo, has also occasionally worked on solo projects in the past. For instance, in 2023, the Chinese singer and rapper released the single ‘WYA’ with fellow K-pop idol Jay Park.

Today, aespa’s Weibo account dropped the first teaser for the collaboration with Wild Rift: “League of Legends: Wild Rift x NINGNING. COMING SOON…”

Released in 2020, League of Legends: Wild Rift is the mobile version of Riot Games’ MOBA esports title, League of Legends (LoL).

Considering the rising popularity of esports and K-pop worldwide, it’s unsurprising that these two phenomena have produced joint art and events for several years.

In addition to the upcoming project with Wild Rift, aespa teamed up with fighting game Street Fighter 6 and performed at the 2025 PUBG Nations Cup (PNC)

Other examples from this year alone include LE SSERAFIM’s collab with Overwatch 2, BABYMONSTER x PUBG Mobile and the PNC marketing campaign, featuring virtual K-pop group PLAVE.

Wildrift developer Riot Games also has a long history of K-pop projects such as the 2023 LoL World Championship anthem performed by New Jeans.

Levelling up in a new game enough to unlock all weapons, gadgets, and attachments is quite a slog. Luckily, it didn’t take long for players to figure out the fastest Battlefield 6 XP farming methods to climb the ranks quickly.

Even though you’ll be able to unlock the best weapons in Battlefield 6 relatively early on, our XP farming guide will put weapons like the M44, TR7 and KV9 in your hands without spending hours in full-blown gameplay.

BF6 XP farming allows players to level up in non-competitive environments, leaving players to earn XP points without investing as much time and concentration into the gameplay. This mostly happens against bots, so players can ensure they take all the kills for themselves.

XP farming is a prevalent concept far beyond Battlefield 6. It’s a common practice in nearly all games with roleplaying or progression aspects, including Call of Duty, Pokémon, and Elden Ring.

In fact, so many people are currently using this method of XP farming that there are limited slots and availability on EA’s servers. We’ll get to that a bit later.

One of the drawbacks to XP farming is that it takes away many of the enjoyable experiences of playing progression-based shooters, as you don’t have much connection to the weapons and gear you’ve earned. One of my core gaming memories (from the Battlefield franchise, no less) involved unlocking the G53 carbine rifle in Battlefield 3. To do this, you had to kill at least one enemy using the Repair Tool, ordinarily used to fix tanks. This took, as you would imagine, a very long time, and finally unlocking that weapon felt enduringly rewarding.

But that was back when I was 11 years old, and I no longer have enough time on my hands to spend hours on trivial challenges anymore. So what if Battlefield 6 XP farming takes away from some of the enduring challenges of grinding if, at the end of the day, it lets you have more fun? 

Even though we’re going to show you how to XP farm in Battlefield 6, we should warn you that it’s not particularly fun. You will spend all of your time shooting incompetent bots, completing non-competitive games, and a whole lot of time on your own. Even if it’s the fastest way to level up, I wouldn’t say it’s the most rewarding.

You will first need to head to the server browser and locate the “Experiences” sub-section. Once you’re here, you’ll be able to search in the toolbar for “XP farms”, which are different community-built portals designed specifically for XP farming.

You’ll want to choose a game mode that is fast to progress and provides a strong chunk of XP upon completion. For me, this is Rush, but Team Deathmatch is also a great shout.

You also get more XP for completing games in Hardcore mode, which can make it slightly harder at times, but you are playing against bots, so there shouldn’t be too many issues here.

After you’ve found the ideal experience, you’ll have to host the game yourself. This means you won’t have other players joining you, and you can ensure you’re playing against bots the entire time.

As mentioned before, this is a really popular method for XP farming, meaning that many of the available Portals are already in use. You should keep trying, though, because as soon as another player closes their Portal, you can begin yours.

Due to the sheer volume of XP farming servers taking up space on the Portal system, players hoping to actually play in small groups with their friends have been unable to do so. EA is now “developing adjustments” that will mitigate the effects of this.

“With so many servers focused on farming XP rather than active play, it’s become noticeably harder for players to create and find experiences to play with other people,” EA said in a community post.

“Implementing this will require some maintenance on the backend,” suggesting that EA won’t outright ban XP farming, but instead open up more server space to facilitate farming and genuine online play. These updates will go live “over the next week”, although there isn’t a specified date just yet.

Despite some of the difficulties of finding a usable server to stock up on BF6 XP, it’s a worthwhile shortcut to getting some of the most valuable weapons in the game. Though you will be eliminating some of the more intimate experiences of the game, it’s definitely the fastest way to become overpowered.

It’s not quite clear if EA is will look to ban XP farming, or if it’s planning to facilitate an equal way for players to both farm and play without the expense of the other. Ultimately, if this method is removed from the game, there will be plenty of other ways to stack up on Battlefield 6.

ZETA DIVISION has announced the departure of VALORANT players Hikaru ‘CLZ’ Mizutani and Kim ‘TenTen’ Tae-young.

The news comes roughly a month after both athletes began exploring other options for the 2026 season as restricted agents.

Previously a professional Fortnite player, CLZ transitioned to VALORANT esports in 2020, where he won several Challengers Japan competitions. In October last year, the Japanese player signed with ZETA ahead of the 2025 VCT Pacific season.

“Thank you very much to my teammates, staff, and fans who have made their voices heard at all times,” shared CLZ in a press release.

“We will not waste the experience and frustration we have gained here, and we will continue to challenge ourselves to the next stage with all our might.”

Unlike his former teammate, TenTen has only been part of ZETA’s VALORANT roster since April this year. The younger brother of Kim ‘Meteor’ Tae-oh commenced his esports career in late 2022. 

Prior to his time at ZETA, TenTen played for T1’s Academy team with which he placed third at Challengers 2025: Korea Stage 1.

TenTen also commented on today’s announcement: “I was really happy to be able to make my debut in the Pacific League in Japan and with my dreamy team, ZETA DIVISION, with my best friends. I hope you will continue to receive a lot of support from now on!”

ZETA DIVISION has been competing in VALORANT since 2020, growing a significant fandom especially among the game’s Japanese audience.

One crucial reason for the organiation’s popularity is its association with former roster member Koji ‘Laz’ Ushida. Even after his retirement, ZETA kept Laz signed as a content creator who helps attract impressive viewership numbers for his team.

As a partner team, ZETA has a secure slot in Riot Games’ franchised VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) until 2027. However, the Japanese organisation has struggled to keep up with other VCT Pacific competitors year-on-year.

Following a third-place at Masters Reykjavík 2022 and a Champions attendence in the same year, ZETA has failed to qualify for another international tournament. This trend persisted throughout 2025 as the roster suffered early elimination at VCT Pacific’s Kickoff, Stage 1 and Stage 2 competitions.

Interestingly, though, ZETA was the only team in Stage 2 to defeat Masters Toronto champion Paper Rex, highlighting the slumbering potential of the former roster.

Paper Rex has officially parted ways with Aaron ‘mindfreak‘ Leonhart following his move to the organisation’s inactive roster in July 2025.

The Indonesian VALORANT player has been part of the squad since its formation back in 2020 and also represented the Singaporean organisation in Counter-Strike.

“Aaron has been part of Paper Rex since our founding in 2020, starting first on our CS:GO roster and transitioning with the team to VALORANT. We will never forget the journey we took together, the clutches, the memes, and the memories we made,” the organisation announced.

mindfreak might not have an international VCT trophy to his name; however, he played a key role in helping the team become one of the most dominant sides in the Pacific region. During his time on the active roster, he also qualified for nearly every international VCT tournament.

He was then replaced by the young Patrick ‘PatMen‘ Mendoza and was allowed to explore new opportunities, though he was often seen sitting alongside head coach Alexandre ‘alecks‘ Sallé while Paper Rex competed at the highest level.

“The End. Cant believe how time flies so fast, its been 5 years. We started from literally nothing to where we are right now. Its safe to  say its not one of the best, but the best moments and journey of my life. I’ll see you around, Adios mi amigos,” mindfreak shared on X (Twitter).

There is currently no information on which team he will be joining ahead of the 2026 VCT season.

2025 was arguably one of the best seasons for Paper Rex so far, as the team lifted its first-ever international VCT trophy, the moment fans had been waiting for over five years.

The roster performed consistently throughout the year, finishing third in VCT Pacific Stage 1 and winning Stage 2. The team concluded its 2025 VCT campaign with a fourth-place finish at VALORANT Champions 2025.

During an interview, Warzone pro Jukeyz opened up to Esports Insider about his motivations, thoughts on Black Ops 7, and what his long-term goals are as a competitor. At the Warzone Global Finals in October 2025, Jukeyz put on an impressive performance, placing third overall in the competition.

Jukeyz is an accomplished Warzone player with a wealth of experience competing at the pro level, so here are a few highlights from our interview with the skilled Call of Duty player.

Black Ops 7 is shaking things up this November with wall jumping and a focus on futuristic equipment. Esports Insider asked Jukeyz what he thinks about the upcoming COD and how he feels about advanced movement returning to the Call of Duty franchise.

“I enjoyed the Black Ops 7 beta, to be honest. I liked the wall jumping; it was very different because we’ve been boots-on-the-ground recently in Call of Duty. Being able to bounce off walls adds a bit of flavour to the gameplay. I’m looking forward to playing Black Ops 7 when it comes out.”

Later in the interview, Jukeyz indicated that wall jumping will be great for pros because it adds the opportunity for unexpected plays on the battlefield. Overall, Jukeyz appears to be looking forward to Black Ops 7, and he’s excited for the new ways to move, too.

The fifth Call of Duty game, titled World at War, is a classic that introduced millions of gamers to COD zombies and multiplayer. Upon being asked about which Call of Duty deserves a remake, Jukeyz told Esports Insider that he’d like to see a remade Call of Duty World at War in the future.

“I want a remake of World at War. It brings back a lot of memories from when zombies first came into play. We did have WW2, which was quite similar, but it wasn’t a remake.”

Activision hasn’t shied away from remaking its most popular Call of Duty titles, so it’s quite possible that they’ll recreate World at War eventually.

When asked about what motivates him as an athlete, Jukeyz had a few different answers. Red Bull’s support throughout Jukeyz’s journey, along with his team, provides ample motivation while competing.

“When I first started competing, I was just doing it for fun. I ended up becoming one of the best players at the time, going into lockdown when everybody was gaming. Then I got picked up by Red Bull, I think that’s what really woke up the beast inside me to want to be the best in the world. I felt proud to represent something, and it turned out to be the best brand you can ever work with.”

Red Bull has been a constant in Jukeyz’s esports career, but while team commitment can be a strong motivator, Jukeyz also referenced his son as a major inspiration in his life.

“I also have a three-year-old son, so it kind of balances out with me representing Red Bull and doing it for my child, too. Those two come together, and it really brings out the beast inside me to want to do great every single year.”

Becoming a famous esports athlete is a long road to walk, so we asked Jukeyz about his advice for young gamers in the UK who want to get started in esports. Jukeyz shared that he would advise gamers to start streaming their gameplay on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, as that’s how he turned his hobby into a career.

“I streamed, which was a big part of how I do this as a job. If you think you’re good at a game, make sure you’re streaming it and letting the world see. One day, you could wake up, and you have one viewer, it might even be a family member. The next day, you can have 10 viewers, and the next day after that, you could have 100; every day is different. Showcase to the world, and you never know, one day you might take off.”

Streaming is key to building an online following in the video game world. Though you might start small with only a few viewers, it’s worth it for the opportunity to show your talents to a broad audience.

At the end of the interview, we asked Jukeyz about his long-term goals for the future. As a 29-year-old athlete, Jukeyz explained that he may only compete for a few more years, so he’d like to win a World Series before retiring.

“I want to win a World Series. I’m the oldest player in the top 10 in Warzone. I don’t know how many years I’ve got left in me to compete. I know I can play the game, but it comes with other people trusting you. I just came in third this year, so I’m making progress.”

As Jukeyz continues to grind to achieve his goals, esports fans can expect to see more of him in 2026 and beyond. Call of Duty is heading in a new direction with Black Ops 7, but armed with an appreciation for wall jumping and a strong dedication to his team, Jukeyz is ready for anything.

BOOM Esports has announced the departure of Dastan ‘dos9’ Zhumagali from its VALORANT roster ahead of the 2026 season.

The Indonesian player signed with BOOM in October last year, when the organisation replaced Ascension winner Bleed Esports for the 2025 VCT Pacific season.

Dos9 has been competing for a variety of tier-two VALORANT teams since 2021. Prior to his time with BOOM, the smokes player was signed to Indian esports organisation Revenant Esports, under which he won the Challengers 2024 South Asia: Split 2.

“Thanks BOOM for the given opportunity, I gave my everything,” commented dos9 on yesterday’s announcement.

“2025 season with this team will have a special space in my heart, still watching and supporting them in their ascension journey, wish them luck.”

According to esports media outlet Sheep Esports, dos9 has already reached a verbal agreement to join VCT EMEA’s Karmine Corp for next year’s season. However, the rumour has yet to be confirmed.

Since 2020, BOOM Esports has been competing in Southeast Asia’s tier-two VALORANT scene. A victory at the APAC Last Chance Qualifier even earned the Indonesian team a spot at 2022’s VALORANT Champions tournament.

At the end of 2024, BOOM secured a one-year promotion to the Pacific division of Riot Games’ franchised VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) thanks to its second-place finish at VCT Pacific Ascension.

Riot made the decision to promote BOOM after the removal of Ascension winner Bleed Esports due to failure to comply with ‘critical reporting requirements’ and other obligations under the Team Participation Agreement.

However, the team couldn’t find its footing in tier one and failed to qualify for any of the three global competitions this year. Moreover, BOOM suffered an early Stage 1 Playoffs elimination despite its flawless 5-0 match score in the Group Stage.

Following this disappointing Stage 1 conclusion, the team ended its VCT season with a winless 0-5 Group Stage 2 performance.

Under Riot’s updated relegation rules for Ascension teams, BOOM’s failure to reach Stage 2’s Playoffs led to a direct demotion to the 2026 Challenger circuit..

Dragon Ranger Gaming (DRG) has won VCT Ascension China 2025 by sweeping Rare Atom 3-0 in the Grand Final.

With its second Ascension trophy, the Chinese team take its slot back in Riot Games’ franchised VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) for another year.

DRG first ascended to China’s VCT circuit by lifting the VCT Ascension trophy in 2023. Though it took the team until the 2024 season to make waves in tier-one and qualify for its first global VCT tournament, Masters Shanghai.

Similarly, DRG had a slow start to this year’s season, missing out on both Masters events before its miracle run in Stage 2. Thanks to its second-place finish in the final regional VCT competition of the year, DRG became one of four Chinese teams to represent the region at VALORANT Champions 2025.

According to Riot’s updated rules for Ascension teams, a Champions qualification would typically secure a roster’s VCT slot for the next season. However, as both DRG and the 2024 Ascension team, XLG Esports qualified for Champions 2025, their respective Champions results determined which squad was safe from relegation to tier-two.

Being eliminated from the tournament slightly ahead of XLG, DRG was forced to defend its VCT rights in this year’s Ascension event.

On October 11th, DRG joined seven teams from China’s Challengers circuit for the region’s most important tier-two VALORANT tournament of the year.

While the 2023 Ascension winner had a flawless Group Stage, defeating both Group A opponents Thunder Gaming (2-0) and Zhu Chao Gaming (2-0), the Playoffs looked different. In its first playoffs match, DRG was sent to the lower bracket by Any Questions Gaming (2-0).

The team had to then win the Lower Bracket Final rematch against Any Questions (3-2) to meet Rare Atom in the Grand Final.

Despite its map veto disadvantage, DRG didn’t drop a single game against Rare Atom. The team first won Corrode (13-4) and Sunset (13-10) to conclude the series in a dominant fashion on its perma-ban Bind (13-1).

Unfortunately for rival Rare Atom, this was the third consecutive second-place result at VCT Ascension China. DRG, on the other hand, will return to VCT China for the 2026 season.