The Brawl Stars World Finals 2025, which took place in Stockholm, Sweden, marked a significant departure in terms of viewership from its predecessor in 2024. Despite the grand setting and intense competition, the event struggled to captivate the same size audience as in previous years.
The Decline in Viewership
Reports suggest the tournament’s peak viewership plummeted from a staggering 1.1 million to just over 211,000 viewers. This dramatic drop has sparked discussions about the event’s standalone format at DreamHack Stockholm, unlike the previous year when it was part of a larger event in Helsinki. Although the airtime almost doubled compared to 2024, the average viewership took a hit, decreasing to 119,035 from a previous 639,209.
Key Teams and Competitive Dynamics
Nonetheless, certain teams managed to capture the limelight. Japanese team Crazy Raccoon emerged victorious, claiming the Brawl Stars Championship by defeating Italian team HMBLE, securing 40% of the $1 million prize pool. The group stage set the tone for an exciting tournament with powerhouse teams like SK Gaming and Totem Esports advancing, although the knockout phase didn’t fully meet expectations, with most series ending in 3-0 sweeps.
Platform Preferences and Demographic Insights
Viewer demographics showed diversity, with English and Spanish audiences each comprising around 50,000 viewers, while Portuguese and Japanese followed closely. The choice of platform also saw a shift, as YouTube attracted the majority of viewers, outshining Twitch, which led in 2024 with over 900,000 peak viewers. This shift underscores a changing landscape in how audiences engage with competitive gaming content.