As 2025 drew to a close, The Esports Radar gathered reflections from esports industry leaders on the year’s developments. In this edition, Monica Dinsmore, Head of Esports at EA, reflects on how a sharper focus on sustainability and cultural relevance shaped the year, from exploring new competitive opportunities and bringing existing tournaments into new markets, to landmark moments such as the Apex Legends Global Series Championship in Japan and EA’s presence at the Esports World Cup.
Read her key insights below, and stay tuned for more in our ongoing “Reflections” series.
1 – Looking back at 2025, would you say it was ultimately a good or challenging year for esports overall? What factors shaped your view of the industry this year?
2025 was a pivotal year for esports. After a period of recalibration, the industry navigated the year with a renewed focus on sustainability and deep engagement with core players and fans.
At EA, we saw this strategy pay off. By meeting our fans where they are, we explored new competitive opportunities in emerging titles like EA Sports College Football, brought our existing tournaments to new markets, and continued to innovate at the intersection of sports, gaming, and culture.This year reaffirmed something we’ve always believed: when you invest in delivering real value for players, momentum follows. That’s exactly the mindset we’re bringing with us into 2026.
2 – Were there organisations, companies, or initiatives you feel genuinely added value to the ecosystem in 2025? What made their contribution significant?
The biggest impact came from brands who showed up with authenticity and a real understanding of the communities they wanted to reach.
Our 30+ league and federation partners across FC Pro continued to build meaningful connections on the virtual pitch, blending club identity and gaming culture in a way that feels natural to fans. We saw the same through our work with the NFL, where syncing the Madden NFL Championship Series with the actual football calendar—from kickoff through the Madden Bowl on Super Bowl weekend—created a deeper, more cohesive experience for American football fans. Those kinds of partnerships move the entire ecosystem forward because they’re built on cultural relevance, not just presence.
3 – In your opinion, what were the standout milestones, breakthroughs, or moments worth celebrating in 2025 — whether competitively, commercially, or culturally?
One of the most defining moments of the year was the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Year 4 Championship in Sapporo, Japan. Welcoming more than 30,000 fans to the Daiwa House PREMIST DOME – the biggest ALGS crowd ever and the third-largest esports event in Japan – was truly incredible. But the real magic was how the entire city embraced it. From airport takeovers to citywide branding and Apex Legends ice sculptures at the Snow Festival, Sapporo turned into a living celebration of our community. It was an unforgettable reminder of the passion that fuels this space.
Another major highlight was EA’s presence at the Esports World Cup, where both ALGS and EA FC Pro took center stage. Showcasing two of our premier competitive ecosystems on a truly global platform allowed us to celebrate our players and connect with fans from all over the world.
The response underscored the global footprint of our titles and their cultural resonance within the broader esports landscape. And building on that, we announced EA as a founding partner of the new Esports Nations Cup.
Also read: Are we so back? EA speaks about the ‘esports spring’
This property has the potential to redefine how national pride, competitive gaming, and cultural identity intersect on the world stage. Being part of its foundation, alongside creative and inspiring leaders from EWCF [Esports World Cup Foundation], Tencent, Ubisoft and Krafton, allows us to help shape a format that elevates players, celebrates global fandom, and adds a fresh dimension to international esports competition. We’re taking all of that momentum with us into 2026 as we continue raising the bar for competition across our entire portfolio.
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