In 2025, the Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) captivated esports enthusiasts globally, as competitors showcased their skills in one of the most popular battle royale games. The series saw numerous changes and exciting events that set new precedents for competitive Fortnite.
FNCS reached new heights this year, with players battling for a staggering $8 million prize pool. Notably, Epic Games transitioned the competition format from Duos to Trios, adding an extra layer of strategy and surprise, as many underdogs rose to prominence.
The FNCS Global Championship was the pinnacle event, with top teams from across the globe vying for the title in Lyon, France, where they competed for a prize pool of over $2 million.
FNCS Major 1 Europe – The Makings of Champions
Each competitive season of Fortnite is highlighted by three Majors, setting the stage for the FNCS Global Championships. Major 1 Europe became a landmark, with the top four teams at the Global Championships emerging from this event. Held in February, it featured the best 33 trios in Europe, battling for their share of the $816,000 prize pool and two championship spots.
The tournament spotlighted new stars with BIG’s Taylor-Petrik ‘vic0’ Gatschelhofer, XSET’s Harry ‘Veno’ Pearson, and AIGHT’s Felix ‘Flickzy’ G securing victory. Gentle Mates’ Egor ‘SwizzY’ Luciko, Andrejs ‘Merstach’ Piratovs, alongside Aleksa ‘Queasy’ Cvetkovic from Twisted Minds, despite finishing fourth, ignited their journey to make history.
FNCS 2025 Pro-Am – Creators and Pros Clash
May saw a thrilling FNCS 2025 Pro-Am at the University of Southern California’s Galen Centre, where top Fortnite creators teamed up with esports pros for a $500,000 prize. The event featured big names like FaZe Clan’s Rani ‘StableRonaldo’ Mach and Jack ‘CouRage’ Dunlop. Ultimately, Shaun ‘AussieAntics’ Cochrane and Peter ‘Peterbot’ Kata triumphed, marking the Pro-Am’s exciting return after a long hiatus and its new role within the FNCS framework.
The tournament became the second most-watched FNCS event of the year, indicating a promising new direction for Epic Games, who might integrate creators more into competitive seasons.
Fortnite Not Featured in The Esports World Cup
Despite a vibrant FNCS year, Fortnite did not feature in the Esports World Cup 2025, leading to mixed reactions from fans. The lack of inclusion was attributed to comments about the game’s competitive structure. However, Epic Games has announced a return for 2026, with the Reload Elite Series promising a faster-paced battle royale format, although remaining separate from FNCS.
As the year concludes, Epic Games has unveiled plans for FNCS 2026, including a return to Duos format, expanded LAN events, and a new mobile circuit. This ambitious expansion shows Epic Games’ commitment to sustaining and growing Fortnite’s esports presence, setting the stage for a pivotal year in 2026.