The 2025 Esports World Cup announced its initial lineup of competitive titles, mixing established franchises with mobile gaming powerhouses for the summer tournament featuring over $60 million in potential prizes.
The event, scheduled for June through August 2025, partners with ESL FaceIt to deliver 25 games across console, mobile and PC platforms. Seven titles received confirmation in the first announcement wave.
Call of Duty leads the roster with two entries – the upcoming Black Ops 6 and established battle royale Warzone. Black Ops 6, centers multiplayer competition on a Desert Storm setting while Warzone continues its squad-based survival format.
Mobile gaming gains prominence through Honor of Kings and Free Fire. Honor of Kings, Tencent’s multiplayer battle arena hit, brings its 5v5 hero-based combat system. Free Fire delivers battle royale action optimized for mobile devices, pitting 50 players against each other for survival.
Street Fighter 6 represents traditional fighting games with its 26-character roster and multiple competitive modes. The 2023 release maintains Capcom’s fighting game legacy while introducing modern competitive features.
DOTA 2 and Rainbow Six Siege round out current confirmations. DOTA 2 continues its decade-long esports presence while Siege offers tactical team-based competition.
The tournament evolved from Saudi Arabia’s Gamers8 Festival under the newly formed Esports World Cup Foundation. The 2024 inaugural event set prize pool records for competitive gaming.
Industry analysts note the strategic game selection balances established esports titles with emerging mobile platforms. The mix aims to attract both traditional competitive gaming audiences and the growing mobile esports sector.
“These selections reflect gaming’s global reach,” said Marcus Chen, esports industry consultant. “From mobile-first Asian markets to console-dominant Western regions, the lineup serves multiple competitive communities.”
Tournament organizers plan to reveal additional titles over the next 35 days. Venue details and final prize pool figures remain pending.
The event marks Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in gaming and esports. The kingdom views competitive gaming as key to economic diversification efforts beyond oil revenues.
