The horizon of UK esports is witnessing transformative changes, stemming from a mixture of triumphs and setbacks in various competitive titles. Esports News UK, in collaboration with betting partner GGBET UK, has delved into the future prospects with a swath of in-depth articles. The most recent and final piece by Dom Sacco offers a compelling look ahead.
Seismic Shifts in Esports Tournaments
The landscape of grassroots esports in the UK has faced a substantial hit with the closure of the Insomnia Gaming Festival. A hub for multiple gaming communities, its absence reverberates widely. However, all is not lost as events like Epic.LAN and LANcraft continue to offer LAN opportunities, keeping the esports spirit alive. Notably, Epic.LAN remains the principal LAN tournament series for UK CS teams.
Valorant has seen exciting developments with the announcement of changes to the Valorant Challengers esports in 2025. Moreover, the rumour mill is abuzz with speculations about the Northern Europe scene moving towards national leagues, which could significantly alter the competitive environment.
Power Players and Coaching Shifts
In the realm of player signings and coaching, some significant moves have been made. Heretics recently signed UK talent Benjyfishy, adding to their armory. Complementing this acquisition, their coaching staff includes UK professionals neilzinho and weber. UK representation is strong across various teams, with players like Keiko and Mistic part of Team Liquid, and Scottish coach DrewSpark joining the Sentinels.
Theo ‘Ticey’ Cranshaw remains a promising figure in Polaris, while Ross ‘aNguiSt’ Pendleton is spearheading CGN Esports' run in the DACH Evolution VCL. The British Esports Student Champs 2024 finals saw an exciting clash between Burnley Bees and CONEL, showcasing the burgeoning talent at the collegiate level thanks to initiatives like NSE and University Esports.
Major Events and Infrastructure
The UK has recently been a vibrant hub for major global events in League of Legends, with the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) taking place at the Copper Box Arena and the LoL Worlds finals held at the iconic O2. Valorant too has its share of significant activities, and the UKEL has made a significant comeback.
"I can say expect to see more and more events happening in the UK (see World Finals this year), more regular activations and Riot presence at existing events, and continued direct support for our ecosystem," says Synygy from the UKEL.
However, not everyone shares this optimism. Greggers, a UK ADC, expressed concerns, stating, "Personally I think UK LoL is going to completely die out, with the only thing left being grassroots and fun tournaments. There needs to be a massive change in funding at the top level to make them viable across Europe, and we need teams with established fan bases to come in and drive viewership."
The UK scene's infrastructure seems poised for potential regardless. As Alex Lyndon, an esports student at Staffs University, puts it, "Additionally, with MSI last year and Worlds this year being in UK venues (and things like ESL Birmingham in other titles), there’s HUGE opportunity for strengthening infrastructure for events and tourism that make sure the UK can build a legacy that can thrive."
CS and Dota Ventures
The Counter-Strike (CS) scene in the UK has interesting developments as well. CS2's launch saw organizations like Viperio and Into The Breach qualify for the Blast Paris Major European RMR. Into the Breach impressed further by reaching the top eight at CSGO’s last major. Although the ESL Premiership for the UK and Ireland has shut down, the UK & Ireland Circuit (UKIC) hosts crucial LAN events for UK CS teams. The Blast Premier Spring Final added another significant chapter by taking place in London.
Dota 2 also continues to thrive with the consistent presence of Tundra Esports in top events and OG's player Ari participating in ESL One Birmingham.
Highlighting the excitement around these events, UK caster ODPixel remarked, "All the ESL One Birmingham’s have been amazing, the crowds have been amazing. I really hope this continues to be a yearly thing, it showed signs of that when they did 2018 and 2019."
Challenges for Call of Duty
For Call of Duty (CoD) fans in the UK, the current situation appears bleak. As Jacob Hale notes, "It’s not easy for UK CoD fans to feel optimistic right now. There is a dwindling number of national players competing at the top level." This sentiment is compounded by the closure of key venues like the Middlesbrough LAN site, which has left fans yearning for a return of top-tier CoD events to the UK.
Despite these headwinds, UK esports is navigating through a complex and rapidly evolving landscape. With continued support and structural investments, the scene could still flourish, attracting global audiences and nurturing local talent to new heights.