Counter-Strike has captivated gamers for more than two decades across several iterations. From its beginnings as a Half-Life mod to its engine overhaul in Counter-Strike 2, the gameplay has remained close to its original design. By all accounts, the stale game should be dead or forgotten, yet it’s becoming increasingly popular.

So, how does Counter-Strike thrive without any major update in what feels like ages? Well, the complex answer is fairly simple: by doing nothing. At least, nothing too radical.

Counter-Strike was instantly a hit when it was released as a Half-Life mod in 1999, offering skill-based gameplay that contrasted arena shooters like Unreal Tournament. Even in its first design, its core gameplay mechanics were already in place. 

The official standalone version was a critical and commercial success, at one point having more than 760,000 players across 7000 servers. Valve continued to improve the game until the final version of Counter-Strike 1.6 was launched alongside the Steam client in 2003. Although there was no matchmaking, online multiplayer made Counter-Strike surge in popularity.

Counter-Strike 1.6 is considered a perfect competitive multiplayer experience, and an early esports scene started to take root. The Cyberathlete Professional League Winter Championship was the game’s first international tournament and gave out a $150,000 prize pool. The game quickly became the most active esport in the following years. Counter-Strike shaped esports into what it is today.

Eventually, Valve released Counter-Strike: Source, the 2004 remake on the Source game engine. Purists hated it because it didn’t offer the same feeling and competitive fairness as 1.6, yet the game was still popular. Source and 1.6 had separate active esports events going on simultaneously.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) finally arrived in 2012 and struggled to unite both scenes. The game was originally designed for consoles, and it shows. Issues like visual fidelity, bad sound design, and terrible hitboxes hurt its competitive integrity. It took a long time and many patches and updates before players slowly started migrating. 

But once players started joining en masse, the momentum kept going. It took two years for the player count to peak at 100k, but it tripled after 12 months. By 2020, CS:GO broke one million peak players. PGL Major Stockholm 2021 had a peak viewership of 2.7 million tuning in to see G2 duking it out against Natus Vincere. Now, with Counter-Strike 2, the game managed to peak at 1.8 million players in March 2025. 

Counter-Strike is popular because of its timeless gameplay. It was said best by the official Counter-Strike Twitter:

There’s an endless learning curve here with no other variables but player skill, and it’s satisfying to improve through repetition. 

Counter-Strike’s esports scene has been a cornerstone of its success and popularity. Majors, IEM, and BLAST tournaments draw millions of viewers and offer multi-million-dollar prize pools. It’s the perfect spectacle esport because anyone who hasn’t played Counter-Strike can easily understand what’s happening.

Counter-Strike has players with a competitive mindset across all skill levels, so there’s no need to separate the casuals and the sweats like most other games. Additionally, casual game modes and community maps like surf provide a welcome break. Events like Valve’s $1 million CS:GO art contest empower their community to create more content for the game.

But of course, it would be naive not to mention that Counter-Strike’s skin economy is also a major reason why it has this many players. Skins have become a cultural phenomenon in its own right; it’s a virtual marketplace where rare skins can be worth thousands of dollars. The self-sustaining ecosystem gives cosmetics real-world value. There’s an industry built on the allure of these skins.

Counter-Strike established its formula early on and stuck to it. Core gameplay pits two sides against each other, Terrorists (Ts) and Counter-Terrorists (CTs), in varying game modes. The main game mode is Bomb Defusal, where the Ts have to plant and detonate a bomb to win while the CTs prevent that. 

One of the best parts of Counter-Strike is that the economy is persistent between rounds. Because of this, players have to think beyond their current state. Decisions like abstaining from buying anything or saving their expensive sniper will have ramifications throughout the match.

Every round is high stakes and deeply rewarding. There are no abilities, unlockables, respawns, or major updates that turn the meta on its head. Gunplay, map knowledge, utility usage, and teamplay are all there on an equal playing field. This is what Counter-Strike was in 1999, and this is what Counter-Strike still is two decades later.

Counter-Strike doesn’t chase trends in gaming – well, there’s the battle royale Danger Zone, but we can ignore that for now. CS:GO avoided drastic reinventions, opting for measured tweaks. Unbalanced weapons are quickly toned down to bring them in line, such as the one-tapping R8 revolver and the laser-beaming scoped rifles. 

Major changes like map reworks to Dust2 and Inferno kept their core layouts familiar. New maps like Anubis and Ancient were welcomed because they are well-designed maps without any additional mechanics. The game has a grounded feeling, and it never strays far away from that design.

Counter-Strike’s commitment to staying true to itself is evident when looking at other games. Dota 2 revamps its map almost every year, and metas are turned on their head every patch. VALORANT introduces new Agents that can power-creep older ones. Overwatch literally removed an entire player from each team. Former Overwatch pro, Seagull, talks about how the game’s constant changes contribute to a high retirement rate.

Like Chess and StarCraft, its rules have remained the same, allowing innovations to accumulate from within the community. Astralis flushing out Inferno B-site with their utility is like pioneering a Chess opening, where other teams have to adapt to the play. These are ideas that were organically developed and are continually iterated on by the best players.

This consistency has fostered generational talent, with players like S1mple and Device maintaining dominance for nearly a decade because the game they mastered in their early careers still plays the same today. Yet, this set-up also allows rising rookies like Donk and m0NESY to improve upon the mechanical pillars these veterans built for them.

That’s why the polarizing switch to Counter-Strike 2 is a sore topic for many long-time fans. Valve removed features like additional game modes, such as Arms Race and Danger Zone. Technical issues like server lag, subtick rate inconsistencies, no Mac support, and bad optimization hurt loyal players who had an unproblematic time in Global Offensive. Meanwhile, problems like poor matchmaking, bot infestation, and weak anti-cheat ruin the competitive integrity, which is sacrosanct to the franchise. Gameplay-wise, the only significant change is the thicker smoke.

Despite all these issues, Counter-Strike 2 is still the same game the world has grown to love over the years: a constant, unchanging institution of shooters. It’s one of the most popular esports, and its skin market is still printing out millions each month. Yet, these issues are taking away the “feel” of the game. As Aleksib said, “Download CS:GO, shoot 1 bot, it’s so crisp, you’re gonna cry.” Valve holds one of gaming’s most important franchises, yet they’re slow to address these problems and instead pass off more skins as updates.

Counter-Strike is a timeless classic that shaped the esports industry around its influence. It captured the hearts of veterans and casuals alike by offering the same playing field and rewarding them for their time. By keeping the core gameplay the same over the years, it’s up to the players to refine it by improving on known techniques and pioneering new ones.

Valve has this golden child, yet their stubbornness to quickly address glaring issues makes the community feel like they’re only good for engaging in the profitable skin market. Despite everything, it’s still Counter-Strike, and its gameplay is too perfect, too refined to change for its own good. If Valve plans to make updates that slowly ruin the game, then it’s better to do nothing at all.

You’re not alone if you’ve been wondering when the Gears of War: E-Day release date will finally be upon us. It’s been nearly a full year since Microsoft first revealed the next instalment in the third-person shooter franchise, with few new details since outside of speculation and rumors. 

The one thing we do know is that you’re out of luck if you’re expecting a Gears 6 release date. That’s because Gears of War: E-Day isn’t a sequel to the mainline games that came before; instead, it’s a prequel that will explore the horrors of Emergence Day, of which we’ve only ever seen (and played through) the aftermath throughout the series to date. There’s also the return of some familiar faces after a handful of sequels went in wild directions, so that’s something to look forward to. 

We’ve combed through all the confusion to bring you everything you need to know about The Coalition’s latest release. However, note that the following combines confirmed details and industry speculation. 

Gears of War: E-Day is rumored to launch by the end of 2025; could be delayed to 2026.

It’s been a long time since we last had a new Gears of War game. The most recent entry in the franchise was Gears 5, which was released nearly six years ago; it even predates the current Xbox Series X/S console generation, being released for the Xbox One before receiving a next-gen port. 

As such, hype is through the roof for Gears of War: E-Day, the role it will fill for the series, a reunion between fan favorite characters, and the full utilization of today’s powerful computing and console technology. 

While no specific Gears of War: E-Day release date has been confirmed by Microsoft, current market estimates claim that the hotly anticipated prequel will be released before the end of 2025. The latest in the long-running third-person shooter franchise was first announced back in June 2024 with no mention of a rough time frame since, outside of rumors and speculation. 

While it’s believed that the Gears of War: E-Day release window will be in 2025, some credible gaming leakers have alleged that Microsoft could be pushing the game to 2026 instead. The speculation was sparked in a Reddit thread after a well-known content creator, eXtas1s, claimed that the prequel could be pushed back due to conflicting plans around the license, which are said to be happening before the end of this year. 

That’s because it’s believed that 2025 will see the announcement and launch of the Gears of War Remastered Collection instead of rolling out E-Day as originally planned. Lending a degree of credence to this rumor is the fact that eXtas1s alleges this collection will be coming to not only the Xbox Series X/S and PC but also the PS5, as Microsoft has a recent history of lending its IP to Sony’s hardware, as we’ve seen with the likes of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 5 this year. 

Likely, the Gears of War: E-Day Xbox and PS5 release date will differ, should Microsoft’s premier franchise make the jump over to Sony’s console; we could see E-Day launch in late 2025 (or early 2026) on its native Xbox and PC platforms, with a later launch window for PS5 gamers. 

It’s currently unknown whether Microsoft will delay the game to next year, making room for the remastered collection instead, or whether it will launch alongside. We’ve seen something similar with Team Ninja’s Year of the Ninja initiative, as Ninja Gaiden 2: Black, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Ninja Gaiden 4 are expected all within 2025; Gears could follow suit. 

However, what we do know for sure is that the original voice actors for Marcus Fenix and Dom (John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro) would be reprising their roles for the prequel. Given how much of a focus the game seems to place on their relationship, this is a welcome comfort for fans throughout the years. We also know that Gears of War: E-Day on Xbox Game Pass is confirmed as well. 

Gears of War: E-Day is likely to cost $70 for the standard edition; pre-orders are yet to go live.

Microsoft has yet to announce or confirm the Gears of War: E-Day price and pre-order information. However, considering it’s an AAA first-party release, we are expecting the title to sell for $70 for the Standard Edition, which is in line with many premium Xbox Series X/S and PC games in recent years. 

We’ve seen this with the likes of Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, both of which launched with a Standard Edition for $70. The company will unlikely buck the trend and offer its flagship any cheaper than this. 

Given that there’s no release date confirmed, it shouldn’t be too surprising to hear that Gears of War: E-Day pre-orders are yet to go live. Once a date (or window) is set in stone, we expect that you’ll be able to secure a digital (or physical) copy of the game from Steam on PC or the Xbox Marketplace on Xbox Series X/S. 

While pre-ordering is unlikely to knock any cash off the entry price, it may give you several days of early access to experience the title with the potential for pre-order bonuses (such as cosmetics, weapons, and missions), giving you incentive to put money down early.  

Another factor of the expected Gears of War: E-Day price is the different versions that could be available. Traditionally, Microsoft offers a Standard Edition, a Premium Edition, and a Collector’s Edition for its heavy-hitting games in the launch calendar, and we’re expecting this release to be no different. 

Looking back to the franchise’s history, the Gears of War Ultimate Edition (remaster) launched with a standard version and a Deluxe Version back in 2015, with Gears 5 receiving a standard version, Ultimate Edition, and a Collector’s Edition in 2019 and 2020 (Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S). 

Gears of War: E-Day is confirmed for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Gears of War: E-Day platforms include the Xbox Series X/S and PC. This has been confirmed by Microsoft with dedicated pages on the Xbox and Steam websites, respectively. 

At present, both of these landing pages are fairly bare-bones in terms of details and content; you’ll be met with a “coming soon” label instead of anything set in stone, with a handful of images and trailers to accompany the brief description of what the long-awaited prequel entails. 

We may also see a Gears of War: E-Day PS5 version alongside the Xbox Series X/S and PC releases, considering Microsoft has softened up on its exclusives library in recent years. However, this is yet to be confirmed by the hardware manufacturer and publisher or Xbox Game Studios. 

Considering the company’s recent promotional drive stating how “this is an Xbox” (seemingly moving away from its hardware and more into Xbox Game Pass as a service), it wouldn’t be the biggest shock to see Marcus Fenix on PlayStation. 

A single trailer has been released so far, during the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase.

There’s only one Gears of War: E-Day trailer published from Xbox Game Studios as present, which was first revealed during last year’s Xbox Games Showcase in a shock announcement. 

That was nearly a year ago, and little else has been teased or shown off in terms of videos, images, and other supplementary material since. The two-minute and 19-second video outlines what we can expect from the prequel, promising to show the unflinching brutality of Emergence Day through the eyes of a young Marcus Fenix. The events of this game are set a full 14 years before the original Gears of War from 2006. 

We know the broad strokes of what to expect from the Gears of War story because we’ve had five mainline entries over the series’ nearly 20-year history. Instead, the prequel will dive deep into all the gruesome details of exactly what happened when the Locust swiftly descended upon Sera in a coordinated, planet-wide attack that killed 25% of the human population. 

The Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) was the last line of defense against them, with Delta Squad (made up of Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago, Augustus Cole, Damon Baird, Colonel Victor Hoffman, and more) trying to rebuild things 14 years after E-Day in the brutal aftermath. The Gears of War new game will explore what happened before then, outside of the few conversations and world-building tips we could piece together. 

Gears of War gameplay is unlikely to change much with E-Day, with the brief snippets shown in the trailer looking to be true to form for the franchise. It’s primarily a third-person cover shooter that also prioritizes up-close-and-personal melee. 

We expect massive hordes of enemies, destructable environments, a vast array of ranged and melee weaponry, and team-based action that few series have consistently delivered to the same extent. It seems unlikely to win over any franchise skeptics, but long-term fans should have a lot to look forward to. 

The official specs are yet to be revealed.

Microsoft has yet to reveal the official Gears of War: E-Day system requirements for PC. The only detail confirmed so far is the requirement for a 64-bit operating system, meaning Windows 11. In the meantime, though, we can look to Xbox Game Studios’ recent PC releases for a rough idea of how powerful your rig will need to be to play the game. 

Taking Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as an example, Machine Games’ first-person adventure game required either an Intel Core i7-10700K or an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU with a fairly powerful GPU of either the RTX 2060 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6600 and 16GB RAM, with an SSD needed to load the title properly. 

As such, we can expect the Gears of War: E-Day system requirements to be somewhat similar, seeing as the title will run on Unreal Engine 5, which can be incredibly demanding. This is a rough guide for 60fps in 1080p; however, 1440p and 4K could require top-of-the-line RTX 50 series and AMD RDNA 4 GPU hardware instead, with VRAM to spare. 

We’ll update you as soon as the official specs are revealed. 

While we still don’t know the official Gears of War: E-Day release date, everything shown off by The Coalition has given us a positive impression of a brutal, action-packed third-person shooter to come. 

With an interesting premise filling in 14 years of lore alongside technical advancements afforded by Unreal Engine 5, this release could be a return to form for the long-running franchise. 

Riot Games has indefinitely removed French esports organisation DVM from the VALORANT Challengers France esports circuit.

The decision, which was announced on the league’s official social media today, follows a situation in which there was a physical conflict between fans during DVM’s match against Joblife on April 8th.

According to a report by Ensigame, DVM supporters started to verbally provoke Joblife fans until the situation escalated into physical violence. The local police intervened, escorting the involved DVM fans out of the venue.

Moreover, the match between DVM and Joblife was cancelled. The following day, tournament organiser Webedia disqualified DVM from the remainder of Challengers 2025 France: Revolution Stage 2.

However, the latest update confirmed that the organisation has been removed from the entire Challengers France circuit, effective today.

“This decision follows a series of incidents concerning the DVM organisation’s failure to maintain the values and professional standards we expect from all league participants and fans,” explained the tournament organiser in the announcement.

“Our goal is to foster an environment that prioritises fair competition, respect between different stakeholders and a high level of professionalism in all respects.”

Webedia further highlighted DVM’s lack of appropriate communication in light of the recent incident: “Despite multiple discussions and opportunities to align with our expectations, the DVM organisation has exhibited behaviour that does not reflect the responsibility and conduct required in our league.”

DVM is yet to issue an official statement regarding today’s removal from Challengers France. However, the organisation’s founders have previously denied any direct involvement with the physical conflict.

On April 10th, Founder ‘DVMEDJA’ shared a detailed statement via his personal X (formerly Twitter) account where he condommed any unprofessional behaviour and emphasised the good ambitions of his organisation.

He also commented on the initial disqualification from Stage 2, promising to seek out further discussions with the league: “As for the sanction, I find it unfair. I feel it was imposed under pressure from the Twitter tribunal, in the heat of the moment, without anyone listening to us. We would have liked to prove that we understood and move forward.”

DVMEDJA continued: “I will contact the league to discuss and find solutions. I am also available to speak with any organisation. And I want to sincerely apologise to everyone who was disappointed, shocked, or impacted by all this. None of what happened was intended.”

While several esports community members have supported Riot’s response to the DVM incident, some expressed concerns regarding unjust consequences for the organisation’s players.

“If only there was an option that punished the org and not the players,” posted esports on-air talent Jessica ‘Jess’ Bolden.

However, according to today’s decision, the current DVM players are allowed to continue competing in the Challengers France ecosystem under conditions approved by the league. The players must either be part of an independent team or a new organisation that is not affiliated with DVM.

The Esports World Cup 2025 calendar has been revealed, showcasing week to week when fans can see their favourite games.

25 games will take centre stage over seven weeks, from July 7th to August 4th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Over 2000 players from more than 200 clubs will compete in the largest tournament yet, with a $70m (~£54.3m) total prize pool.

The schedule was released through a trailer on X by the official Esports World Cup account. Here is the full schedule and lists of games/tournaments featured, beginning July 7th:

The Esports World Cup is a global gaming tournament which pits the best teams from around the world against one another across various esports titles.

The event was first announced on October 23rd, 2023 by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, and hosted its first tournament in 2024. It is organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation and ESL FACEIT Group.

The Esports World Cup Foundation has sparked controversy from the community due to its involvement with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. In recent years, the Kingdom’s human rights record has been called into question and has been criticised.

Alongside the individual events, 40 partnered teams will compete against one another across the games listed, earning points based on placements to climb the leaderboard. Last year’s competition was won by Team Falcons.

There will be a lot of top games to keep an eye on in this year’s Esports World Cup.

Ubisoft recently revealed its major update to Rainbow Six Siege called Siege X, which will first be showcased at the RE:LO:AD tournament in Rio de Janeiro before entering this years cup. Viewers will be able to see how the top teams in the world fare with the updated visuals, destructible ingredients and more come Week 5.

Overwatch 2 in Week 4 will be interesting in light of its hero perks update, which has significantly transformed the esports scene. We have already seen its effects in the Overwatch Champions Series, and matches could prove even more intense in the hands of the best teams in the world.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang proved to be the event’s most viewed game last year, outperforming the likes of League of Legends and Counter Strike 2. With two separate events taking place, namely Women’s Invitational and Mid Season Cup, there’ll be plenty of MOBA action for fans to enjoy.

The Tekken 8 Nations Cup will bring top pros from around the world to Abu Dhabi from April 18th to 20th during Middle East Film & Comic Con 2025.

The FGC tourney will be held on the main stage of the Gaming District area of the MEFCC. Top competitors, including Arslan Ash and Bae ‘Knee’ Jae-Min, will take to the stage.

Marcos Muller-Habig, Director of Abu Dhabi Gaming, said in a press release: “Bringing the biggest esports names from across the globe to compete alongside regional stars is exactly what Abu Dhabi Gaming is about.

“Events like the Tekken Nations Cup reflect the calibre of tournament we’re building here, not just a competition, but a global platform for community, creativity, and growth. This is a milestone moment for the ecosystem we’re shaping in Abu Dhabi, and we can’t wait to welcome fans to be part of it.”

The Tekken 8 Nations Cup will not be the usual 1v1 format players are used to watching in esports competitions. Instead, the tournament features a 3v3 team format, with each nation’s best players forming formidable teams to fight for pride and prestige.

Teams will face each other in a round-robin phase, with the top two teams advancing to a Grand Final showdown.

Abu Dhabi Gaming is most definitely encouraging fans to attend the MEFCC to not only watch the show match but take part in fan activations throughout the weekend. There will be Marvel Rivals fan tournaments, retro arcades and more that bolster the fighting game community spirit.

The Tekken 8 Nations Cup will be cast by content creators from the Tekken 8 community, including Steven ‘Tasty Steve’ Scott and Hassan ‘Spag’ Farooq.

The Tekken 8 Nations Cup will likely be shared after the event wraps up on the MEFCC’s YouTube channel.

League of Legends developer Riot Games has unveiled its new five-versus-five game mode, Brawl. This mode is lower strategy and high action compared to Summoner’s Rift.

Set to release in Patch 25.10, the new game mode will feature teams of five battling in a small area, killing each other and trying to kill the enemy base first.

Brawl is set to have faster-paced games, similar to the other non-competitive 5v5 game mode, ARAM. Unlike ARAM, however, Brawl will allow you to pick the champions and there won’t be as big of a strategic aspect. Essentially, it will eliminate a lot of the complexity that makes League of Legends have a steep learning curve, allowing newcomers to feel less intimidated if they haven’t been putting in hours of grinding a day.

“We thought about what kind of modes fill this space in other games—our closest parallel was Team Deathmatch in FPS titles. In those modes you can test your mechanics and enjoy the core gameplay without worrying too much about coordination or having to be the best,” explained Riot Games in its dev blog post about the idea behind Brawl.

The two teams will start with 250 health. The first team to reduce the opponent’s health bar to zero will win. There are a couple of ways to reduce the health bar, starting with takedowns, each dealing five damage.

Additionally, takedowns on enemy minions will also deal one damage if the enemy team is not at low health, meaning that players won’t be able to stall the game and will have to fight continuously. On top of that, each minion pushed into the opponent’s Bandle portal will also deal one damage. These three rules will inevitably lead to constant skirmishing and never-ending action.

On the sides of the central lane, players will find camps that grant powerful buffs, creating more dynamics and making viable a larger variety of champions. Just like in ARAM, players won’t have to farm a lot and get kills to snowball: the system will be granting more gold over time to match the pace of the game mode. Recalls are allowed.

Furthermore, Riot Games has implemented a comeback buff for the losing team to have a better chance of getting back into the game. This buff deals more damage and lowers the damage taken, reducing the snowballing effect that is part of every League of Legends game mode.

The game mode will hit the live servers with the release of Patch 25.10. According to the official schedule, Brawl will be released on May 14th, 2025.

Even though the game mode has yet to receive feedback from the entire community, it’s unlikely we will see a competitive scene for Brawl. The new game mode has eliminated many strategic aspects that make Summoner’s Rift harder to master, such as macro and drafting.

Moreover, considering that the game mode heavily revolves around skirmishes, several balance issues might need tweaking over time. That being said, fans might get to witness special events or non-competitive tournaments centered around Brawl in the near future, just like they did in previous iterations of All-Stars, which used the ARAM map.

North American game publisher Motorsport Games has announced it has secured $2.5m (~£1.8m) as part of a recent strategic investment.

The investment was led by Delaware-based technology company Pimax, which specialises in virtual reality (VR) headsets.

According to a release, the funding will be used to improve Motorsport Games‘ ‘cash position, fund working capital and general corporate expenses. Additionally, it will also help the company ‘accelerate future product development.’

The investment is for 1.8 million Class A common stock and a pre-funded warrant for an additional 377,836 shares prices at $1.10 (~£0.83) and $1.09 (~£0.82), respectively.

Motorsport Games is the publisher of sim racing title Le Mans Ultimate which launched in early access in February 2024. Developed by Studio 397, the title is the official racing game of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“We have been very happy with the response to our very public desire to seek further investment in the company and after comprehensive talks with Pimax, we are delighted to conclude their investment in Motorsport Games,” said Stephen Hood, CEO of Motorsport Games.

“We are excited to have Pimax as partners and believe that it represents excellent value to shareholders as we solidify the company’s financial position to give greater confidence in our ability to excel.”

The financial situation of Motorsport Games has been a hot topic of conversation in the sim racing sector. The publisher had the rights to develop a game for single-seater series IndyCar but the agreement was terminated after the publisher struggled with payments.

For Motorsport Games, this recent investment opens the door for the publisher to provide VR offerings within Le Mans Ultimate. The racing simulator is expected to release fully in 2025.

Alongside Le Mans Ultimate, the publisher is also responsible for racing sims rFactor 2 and Kartkraft.

What does it take to become the highest-paid esports player in history? How does a 16-year-old win $3 million in a single tournament? And why do some games offer prizes bigger than the Super Bowl? The world of competitive gaming has created overnight millionaires, legendary rivalries, and jaw-dropping prize pools, but behind every record-breaking paycheck is a story of skill, teamwork, and relentless dedication. 

From Dota 2’s millions in crowdfunding to mobile games’ meteoric rise, esports has rewritten the rules of success. If you’ve ever wondered who the highest-paid esports players are, how they reached the top, and what the future holds for gaming’s biggest paydays, this is your guide to the top esports earners.

Before that, a quick disclaimer. Almost all of the top paid esports players are filled with Dota 2 players, thanks to its inflated prize pools relative to other esports. The back-to-back TI champions OG and two-time winners from Team Spirit take the top spot, followed by a long list of fellow Dota 2 players. 

The inflated prize pool for Dota 2’s annual tournament is due to crowdfunding from the compendium or its battle pass. For variety’s sake, we’ll only include the esport once to take a better look at the highest-paid esports players.

N0tail’s journey is the stuff of esports legend. Starting as a young prodigy in Heroes of Newerth, he shifted to Dota 2 and co-founded OG (formerly Monkey Business). Known for his unshakable positivity and innovative drafting, he led OG through one of the greatest underdog stories in esports: winning The International 2018 after barely qualifying, then repeating in 2019 with an even more dominant performance. 

Beyond trophies, N0tail’s legacy is his leadership, turning a group of misfits into champions and forever changing how Dota is played. N0tail and his championship team (JerAx, ana, Ceb, and Topson) remain the richest esports players in history, with his $7.18 million earnings setting the benchmark for the highest esports earnings.

At just 16, Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf shocked the world by winning the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Solo Finals, claiming the $3 million prize with a performance so aggressive his score nearly doubled the runner-up. The Pennsylvania teen had quietly worked for months, and he was the first to qualify for the tournament. After winning, he transformed into an overnight sensation. Bugha became Fortnite’s golden boy, an esport icon who was a media sensation.

Bugha continues to prove he isn’t a fluke, like winning the Fortnite Champion Series three times. With 4.7 million subscribers on YouTube and 5.5 million followers on Twitch, he is the richest Fortnite player and the face of Fortnite esports.

Dupreeh’s career defines CS:GO longevity and consistency. The Danish entry fragger and rifler began all the way back in 2012, grinding through early rejections before forming Astralis’ legendary core. Dupreeh, dev1ce, Xyp9x, gla1ve, Magisk, and coach zonic would go on to create one of esports’ most successful dynasties, setting records that no other team could ever match.

After Astralis’ era ended, he proved doubters wrong by winning another major with Vitality at 29 – an age many consider ‘old’ in esports. His achievements and earnings stand as a testament to staying at the top of your game for more than a decade.

HuaHai’s rise mirrors Honor of Kings’ explosive growth in China. He debuted in 2019 with eStar Gaming and immediately won the King Pro League. During his explosive KPL League debut, HuaHai scored a pentakill on Arli, making him the first player to do so.

That same year, HuaHai won the World Champion Cup with a prize pool of approximately $4.5 million.

But HuaHai wasn’t a one-hit wonder: his 2022 International Championship run, where his team won $3.5 million of the $10 million prize pool, made him one of the highest-paid esports players of all time. HuaHai was crowned as the FMVP for his stellar performance in the grand finals. He’s still going strong.

Faker’s name is synonymous with League of Legends. Discovered as a solo queue prodigy in 2013, he debuted with SKT T1 and immediately redefined the mid lane. His Zed outplay against Ryu became one of the most iconic clips in esports history, winning the reverse sweep, and the OGN Champions Korea 2013 Summer immediately made the play legendary.

Now part-owner of T1, Faker transcends gameplay, he’s a cultural icon. His $1.8 million in earnings only includes known prize pools. Riot Games sets minimum salary standards for professional players in its esports leagues. Add the revenue share from his nine in-game skins, brand deals, and investments like a literal business complex building named after him; he can comfortably retire anytime.

The first International took place in Cologne, Germany, way back in 2011. Valve’s inaugural tournament for Dota 2 featured a million-dollar prize pool, won by the Ukrainian team Na’Vi. Back then, that kind of money for one esports tournament was unheard of, and it helped set the commercial potential for years to come.

Fast forward to 2021, Team Spirit has won the biggest prize pool in The International, earning $18 million of the total $40 million. In the same year, more and more esports offered huge prize pools. The PUBG Global Championship offered $4.4 million, the Shadowverse World Grand Prix was $2.2 million, and the Honor of Kings World Champion Cup awarded approximately $7.6 million. Esports has bounced back from online tournaments and canceled events from the pandemic.

However, in 2024, The International’s prize pool went down to $2.7 million. While it’s still one of the highest-paying esports, the difference between its peak is a stark contrast. However, that doesn’t mean the bubble has popped; it shows a shift toward sustainability rather than volatility. 

The Esports World Cup 2024 had a prize pool of $60 million distributed throughout more than 20 games. Mobile esports like Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile now command prize pools rivaling PC titles, particularly in Asian markets where smartphone gaming dominates. Meanwhile, Riot Games’ partnership model provides a healthy ecosystem where pro players, partners, sponsors, teams, and leagues expect predictable income for long-term sustainability.

The future trend of esports prize money and the industry looks more profitable for everyone involved. Industry analysts believe the global esports market is in an upward trend, thanks to factors like sponsorships and the high viewership numbers from Twitch and YouTube Gaming. 

The lesson of the past decade is clear: esports isn’t abandoning big prizes but rather diversifying its revenue streams to ensure long-term viability. Competitive gaming has matured from a niche curiosity into a global entertainment industry, one where financial success is measured not just in tournament winnings but in lasting cultural impact and commercial infrastructure.

Esports has evolved from basement LAN parties to a billion-dollar industry. These fortunate players prove that esports is a viable career path, similar to pro athletes, where skilled players have the chance to win big. These top esports players show that the path to success isn’t just from one tournament but from consistency in winning.

Tournaments with huge prize pools are a spectacle that encourages more pro players to join their competitive scene. And with the esports industry moving towards sustainability and long-term growth, we’re going to see less of these career-defining earnings. That means now, more than ever, it’s a great time to get into esports. Even outside of being a pro player, there are new and specialized careers dedicated to fostering talent and managing organizations.

The opening Major of the 2025 Halo Championship Series (HCS) season takes place this weekend and while the best teams in the world compete, viewers watching can earn a range of exclusive rewards throughout the tournament.

From weapon charms, emblems and armour coatings, here’s a detailed guide on everything you can earn by watching the upcoming HCS Major Arlington event and information on how to claim the items.

All of the rewards are available to claim throughout the tournament, which takes place from April 18th to 20th, 2025. Ahead of the tournament, the HCS revealed the items that are available to claim.

Viewers on Twitch will have the ability to claim the rewards. Below is a list of all the drops on offer and the criteria needed to obtain them:

Viewers can claim the rewards by linking their Halo Waypoint profile to their Twitch accounts along with watching the official tournament broadcast or watch parties organised by co-streamers.

HCS Major Arlington is the first event of the 2025 HCS season. This season will feature four Majors throughout the year followed by the season-ending Halo World Championship taking place from October 24th-26th, 2025.

Alongside the drops available throughout HCS Major Arlington, the HCS has also revealed that the Year 2 Launch Bundles for five of its partner teams will return to the in-game store for players to purchase.

Below are the following esports organisations that will have a bundle for sale: