Every year, a few stories stay with you longer than others. Not necessarily because they were the biggest, or the loudest, but because they helped make sense of where the esports industry actually is — and where it might be going next.
These are some of the features I enjoyed working on and thinking about the most in 2025. They reflect the questions that kept coming back throughout the year: sustainability, growth beyond the obvious markets, accountability, and how different cultures, games and institutions are shaping esports in their own ways.
Some of these pieces came from planned conversations, others from moments of curiosity that turned into something deeper. Together, they form a snapshot of the year as I experienced it — on the ground, in interviews, and while trying to understand an industry that is still very much finding its footing.
- Vertiqal Studios to Sell Luminosity Gaming, Retain YouTube Ad Licence
This piece looks at ownership change, platform leverage and what actually matters in esports media economics. I was looking for more information on payment delays at Luminosity and, voilà, I found this story. I confess that, to me, it felt like Vertiqal knew something Enthusiast had that not even Enthusiast realised it possessed — a master move. Now, everyone is watching how Luminosity will emerge from this, apparently free of debt.
- Wild Rift’s Esports Pivot: David Xu on LoL Worlds Integration and Learning from Past Miscalibrations
This interview is about course correction. I really liked how honest Xu was about past mistakes in Wild Rift esports. It is the kind of reflection that deserves to be applied and revisited throughout the history of our industry.
- Designed with Pros: Logitech G’s Scientific Pursuit of Esports Performance
This feature dives into how Logitech G approaches performance through research and collaboration with professionals. As a nerd, I was immediately curious about how the company’s investment in research labs actually works in practice and what kind of results it delivers. Having the chance to explore this in depth with Cary Lambert was genuinely exciting. A sponsored interview that fully satisfied my curiosity. Man, I love my job.
- Esports in India: A Late Arrival or the Next Global Powerhouse?
This piece examines India’s esports ecosystem through regulation, infrastructure and culture. Years ago, I kept thinking: India has such a large population, indeed the largest globally, and an enormous appetite for gaming, so why don’t we hear more about esports there? That question started to answer itself in 2025, as more news emerged from the region. Diving deeper into the country’s developments felt necessary — especially because nothing suggests this momentum will fade. India is clearly becoming a major market, and players like BLAST already know it.
- Debts and Misrepresentation: The Guild Esports Rabbit Hole
This investigation deals with uncomfortable realities. It was hard to hear some of the stories that surfaced, especially because I sat beside workers who were directly affected. But that discomfort is exactly why this kind of reporting is necessary. Irresponsible investors should be held accountable. And even after this piece, there are still unanswered questions — including who Gary LaDrido really is, and how he managed to claim ownership over assets he never touched, such as Venezia FC.
- Italy’s Fresh Face on the Global Stage: An Interview with Novo Esports
This interview explores NOVO Esports and the wider Italian esports landscape. As I mentioned in the feature, my Italian side wants to see Italy thrive in esports, and that’s why I could not miss the opportunity to speak with NOVO’s CEO Emanuele Acerbis while in Riyadh. Because of my personal proximity to the subject, I also allowed myself a bit of comedy here and there. Worth the read!
- Feeling at Home: Magnus Carlsen on Chess at the Esports World Cup
This one barely needs explanation. I play chess, I interviewed the GOAT, the GOAT was genuinely cool to me — and I even saw him watching a CS2 match. A clear win.
- Esports Commitment and Civic Support: How EFG Chooses Host Cities
This piece is essentially a guide to what cities need to consider if they want to host a major esports event. It breaks down what organisers look for, in this case from the perspective of the ESL FACEIT Group, and why public support matters. A must-read for public administrations and institutions hoping to attract the economic impact of large esports competitions, as Visit Raleigh pointed out in a guest post here on The Esports Radar.
- ‘Are We So Back?’ EA Speaks About the Esports Spring
2025 was not an easy year, but some signals point towards a recovery phase. Prize pools are increasing, viewership figures are finally catching up with the COVID-era highs, and EA introduces the idea of an “esports spring”. This feature explores that concept and what it might actually mean for the industry.
- Is the West Important for Mobile Legends Esports? An Interview with Moonton’s Ray Ng
I was in Riyadh for the Esports World Cup when I interviewed Ray Ng from MOONTON Games. Halfway through the conversation, it hit me: I was talking to someone who already has the biggest audience in esports — and I was asking him about the West. Is it really that important? Do they even need it? That is the moment when the interview truly clicked.
- HRH Prince Faisal on Saudi Arabia’s Endgame with the Esports World Cup
HRH Prince Faisal is one of the most eloquent people I have ever met. He has the gift of the gab. Listening to him explain Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in esports is genuinely captivating — from attracting talent and global attention to building a long-term gaming and technology ecosystem beyond oil. Whether this comes from natural talent, years of experience, or exceptionally strong media preparation, I’m not sure — but the clarity of the vision is unmistakable.
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