VALORANT to Transition to Unreal Engine 5; MSI 2025 Sets League of Legends Viewership Record
Key Takeaways
- VALORANT upgrades to Unreal Engine 5 on July 29, 2025, with update 11.02.
- MSI 2025 reached 3.4 million peak viewers, a new League of Legends record.
- Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 x EWC features $3M prize pool in Riyadh.
- VCT 2025 EMEA Stage 2 starts July 16 in Berlin with $100,000 prize.
- GosuGamers launches 'GosuBattles Grant Programme' for esports tournaments in India, Philippines.
Top Stories
VALORANT to Unreal Engine 5 on July 29, 2025.
VALORANT will transition to Unreal Engine 5 with update 11.02, releasing on July 29, 2025, aiming to improve performance and patch loading. Riot also announced that Valorant and League of Legends will now allow betting sponsorships.
MSI 2025 sets League of Legends viewership record.
MSI 2025, held in Vancouver from June 27 to July 12, 2025, reached 3.4 million peak viewers during the grand finals, setting a new viewership record for League of Legends. The tournament saw a 21% increase in viewership compared to 2024 and generated 73.9 million hours watched.
Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 at Esports World Cup.
The Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 x EWC is set to take place at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 15 to 26, 2025. Eighteen teams will compete for the inaugural world championship title and a $3 million prize pool.
VCT 2025 EMEA Stage 2 starts July 16, 2025.
VCT 2025 EMEA Stage 2 is scheduled from July 16 to Sept. 1, 2025, at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. The winner will receive $100,000 and 7 points towards Champions qualification.
GosuGamers launches esports program in India, Philippines.
On July 14, 2025, GosuGamers announced a new program to support local esports tournaments in India and the Philippines. The "GosuBattles Grant Programme" aims to professionalize tournament formats and promote young talent.
Community Buzz
Tekken 8 tournament for seniors in Japan.
The Care Esports Association in Japan organized a Tekken 8 tournament for seniors in care homes. Yoshie Murabe won the tournament.
Event Horizon
League of Legends Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.
The League of Legends Esports World Cup 2025 will be held from July 16-20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring teams competing for a prize pool. The first match on July 16 features CTBC Flying Oyster against Hanwha Life Esports.
Dota 2 at Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.
The Esports World Cup 2025's Dota 2 event runs from July 8 to 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 16 teams competing for a US$3 million prize pool. The champion will take home US$1 million.
Player Moves
gr1ks joins HEROIC.
In an interview published on July 15, 2025, gr1ks discussed his decision to decline an offer from FURIA and instead join HEROIC. The interview was conducted ahead of his FISSURE Playground 1 debut.
oskar joins ALGO.
On 2025-07-15, oskar joins ALGO after a short stint with Inner Circle. The Czech AWPer finds a new home.
MIBR signs nicks.
MIBR sign nicks. The team will debut at FISSURE Playground 1 with their replacement for Lucaozy.
Sponsor Spotlight
SteelSeries sponsors LCK Roadshow 2025: T1 Home Ground.
SteelSeries is sponsoring the LCK Roadshow 2025: T1 Home Ground festival from July 25-27 at the Inspire Arena. Attendees can access SteelSeries gear used by T1, with discounts and a limited-edition keyring.
Team Dynamics
jL discusses taking a break.
jL discusses his decision to take a break, mentioning there weren't many conditions that would have made him stay. He also talks about the addition of makazze and potential roster changes.
Tournament Triumphs
fnatic competes in ESL Pro League.
On July 14, 2025, fnatic, ranked 37th, competed against ESC in the ESL Pro League Season 22 Europe Closed Qualifier. The match featured three maps: Mirage, Inferno, and Anubis.