Esports Teams to Watch in 2025: Rising Stars Across Major Titles
The Evolving Esports Landscape
The esports industry continues its remarkable trajectory in 2025, building upon the momentum gathered throughout 2024. Last year witnessed unprecedented viewership numbers across multiple competitive gaming titles, alongside the emergence of formidable new teams and talented players. The competitive gaming ecosystem has never been more vibrant, with underdog victories and breakthrough performances reshaping the landscape.
Looking ahead at the remainder of 2025, several organizations stand out for their potential to either dominate viewership charts or seriously contend for world championships. Many of these teams made significant impacts in 2024 through regional titles, viewership records, or strategic roster changes that position them for success. These organizations aren’t merely participating in competitions—they’re actively defining esports’ future direction.
League of Legends: KOI’s Spanish Revolution
Spanish organization KOI has established itself as a major force in League of Legends, poised for both competitive success and impressive viewership figures in 2025. The team’s connection to popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos gives them a substantial viewership advantage, with his co-streams regularly attracting massive audiences.
KOI’s preparation for the 2025 season included strategic roster enhancements, most notably recruiting mid-laner Joseph “Jojopyun” Pyun, who brings international experience and an LCS championship to the team. They’ve also strengthened their coaching staff with Bjørn-Vegar “Hansen” Hansen, previously successful in the French regional circuit.
The team has already demonstrated their capabilities in the 2025 LEC season, finishing the regular season with an impressive 6-3 record and advancing through the playoffs with victories over Team BDS and GIANTX. Their upcoming match against top-seeded Fnatic (8-1) on February 28 will be a crucial test of their championship potential.
With Jojopyun’s integration into the mid-lane expected to enhance their gameplay dynamics, KOI appears positioned to be one of the LEC’s most exciting teams this year, both in competitive performance and audience engagement.
Counter-Strike 2: Team Vitality’s Renewed Dominance
Team Vitality has cemented its place among Counter-Strike’s elite, building on their exceptional 2023 campaign that included a Major championship. Although they experienced a slight competitive decline in 2024 with only one major international victory, their recent addition of Robin “ropz” Kool has reinvigorated their roster for 2025.
Led by veteran in-game leader Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and featuring superstar Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut—widely regarded as one of Counter-Strike’s greatest players—Team Vitality fields one of the most feared lineups in the game. ZywOo continues to deliver exceptional performances, regularly contending for MVP honors at tournaments.
Their 2025 campaign began with an unexpected setback at BLAST Premier Bounty Season 1, suffering elimination against Turkish underdogs Eternal Fire. However, they quickly rebounded with a flawless run through IEM Katowice 2025, defeating world-class teams like FaZe Clan and Team Spirit to claim the championship.
Team Vitality’s dominant performance against Team Spirit at IEM Katowice demonstrated their ability to neutralize emerging talents like Danil “donk” Kryshkovets. With their strengthened roster featuring ropz, Team Vitality looks poised to maintain their position as one of Counter-Strike 2’s premier teams throughout 2025.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: Selangor Red Giants
Selangor Red Giants have transformed the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang competitive scene, particularly after their groundbreaking victory at the EWC X MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024—Malaysia’s first international MLBB championship. This achievement catapulted them into global prominence and established high expectations for 2025.
The Red Giants have become symbolic figures in Malaysian esports, inspiring unprecedented local interest in MLBB. Their matches consistently draw massive viewership as the nation rallies behind their champions. Their continued success at international events could further expand Malaysia’s already passionate MLBB audience.
After securing another MPL Malaysia championship in late 2024, the team achieved a podium finish at the M6 World Championship, demonstrating their status as Malaysia’s premier competitive squad. Their third-place result after falling to Team Liquid ID shows promising international competitiveness.
The 2025 calendar offers numerous opportunities for the Red Giants to showcase their talents globally. Strong performances at the Mid-Season Cup and other international tournaments could help Malaysian viewership reach unprecedented heights for MLBB esports.
Valorant: Nongshim RedForce’s Korean Ascension
Formerly known as Sin Prisa Gaming, Nongshim RedForce represents one of Valorant’s most remarkable success stories. After dominating the Premier circuit in late 2024, the team secured a coveted spot in the VCT Pacific League 2025, earning recognition for their tactical excellence and teamwork.
Their journey through 2024 was extraordinary—progressing through the Challengers circuit and Ascension tournament without losing a single match. Throughout their ascent, only three teams managed to take even a single map from them. Despite these impressive credentials, they faced challenges against established Korean teams during the Pacific circuit’s Kickoff event.
Nongshim RedForce exemplifies the growing Korean influence in Valorant, as teams from the region increasingly dominate the Pacific circuit. The top three placements at VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff all went to Korean organizations fielding all-Korean rosters, highlighting the region’s emerging dominance.
For the remainder of the 2025 Valorant Champions Tour, Nongshim RedForce must overcome regional powerhouses like DRX, T1, and Gen.G to qualify for international events. While they missed qualification for Masters Bangkok, their performances have exceeded many established teams, positioning them to potentially drive Korean interest in Valorant—one of esports’ fastest-growing FPS titles.
Dota 2: The Chinese Resurgence – Xtreme Gaming and Yakult Brothers
The 2025 Dota 2 competitive scene features compelling storylines, with Xtreme Gaming and Yakult Brothers at the center following significant roster exchanges. These player swaps between the Chinese organizations have created intriguing team dynamics worth following this year.
Xtreme Gaming strengthened their lineup by acquiring Wilson “poloson” Koh from Yakult Brothers, while Jiang “天命” An and Wang “Ame” Chunyu moved in the opposite direction. These transfers have sparked considerable interest among Chinese Dota 2 fans, creating a natural rivalry between the teams.
While neither squad has achieved international tournament success in early 2025, the year remains young. These restructured rosters represent China’s best hope to reclaim its former status as a Dota 2 powerhouse. The nation previously dominated the international scene, and these revamped teams could help restore China’s competitive standing.
PUBG Mobile: Regnum Carya Esports
Turkish organization Regnum Carya Esports has rapidly ascended through the PUBG Mobile competitive ranks, positioning themselves as a team to watch in 2025. Their impressive 2024 campaign culminated in a second-place finish at the PUBG Mobile Global Championship, just one point shy of the title.
The team’s journey to international recognition followed a gradual progression. After establishing themselves regionally and struggling initially on the international stage, they found their breakthrough at the Global Championship. Despite modest expectations heading into the event, they surged during the Grand Finals, securing three round victories and nearly claiming the overall championship.
Their success has significantly boosted PUBG Mobile viewership in Turkey, approaching the peak numbers seen during the pandemic. With their innovative strategies and growing fan support, Regnum Carya Esports appears positioned to contend for global PUBG Mobile supremacy in 2025.
Apex Legends: Team Liquid
Team Liquid, a renowned esports organization, has reinforced their commitment to Apex Legends with a roster that stands out for 2025. After briefly stepping away from the title, Team Liquid returned to competition in mid-2024, assembling a South American squad that quickly established themselves as regional leaders and international contenders.
Shortly after their re-entry, the team accumulated impressive results at major events including the Esports World Cup and ALGS Stage 2. They’ve maintained dominance in their regional BLGS tournaments, claiming the Americas regional championship.
Beyond competitive achievements, Team Liquid benefits from their established global brand recognition. Their consistent content creation across platforms like YouTube and Twitch has cultivated a substantial fanbase. As one of esports’ most recognizable organizations, they’re likely to attract significant followings both regionally and internationally.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 progresses, these emerging and established esports teams continue generating excitement across their respective titles. With evolving strategies, roster adjustments, and intensifying regional rivalries, the competitive landscape promises thrilling developments for both fans and competitors. The highlighted teams have the potential to not only dominate their respective esports scenes but also establish new viewership records across regions.
