Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation, has shared insights into the absence of Fortnite from the list of games featured at the 2025 iteration of the Esports World Cup.
This popular, no-cost battle royale game was showcased in 2024 under the banner of ESL Featuring Fortnite.
During an interview with the Saudi Arabian broadcasting channel, Al Ekhbariya, Reichert mentioned that Fortnite “lacks the necessary tools for competitive play” and “does not possess an extensive competitive structure.” He cited these reasons as contributing to the decision to omit the game from the event’s lineup.
“Fortnite is a truly remarkable game and boasts a significant player base; however, it’s not inherently designed for competitive scenarios at present,” Reichert elaborated. “This consideration led to the decision not to include it this time. We plan to reassess its inclusion for the 2026 event.”
Even in the absence of Fortnite at the Esports World Cup, its competitive environment has demonstrated consistent expansion throughout 2025. This year’s edition of the FNCS Pro-Am competition garnered a peak viewership of over 600,000 individuals, while the 2024 FNCS Global Championship achieved a peak of 809,000 viewers.
Beyond the highest echelons of its professional gaming circuit, Epic Games, the game’s developer and publisher, is committed to providing avenues for players to engage in competition across various game modes available within the title.
As part of the Chapter 6 Season 4 release, they introduced the Champions Road series of tournaments. This series enables players to vie for monetary rewards and exclusive in-game cosmetic items, preceding their availability for purchase in the in-game store.
Is Fortnite Reliant on the Esports World Cup?
Given the continued growth and positive indicators within its competitive ecosystem, the inclusion or exclusion of Fortnite from the Esports World Cup would not fundamentally alter the trajectory of its competitive scene.
The hosting of a tournament at the Esports World Cup could augment the impressive and varied selection of competitive games showcased in Saudi Arabia. However, considering the consistent viewership figures of the FNCS, it’s plausible that Fortnite’s battle royale modes might not be a part of the Esports World Cup in the immediate future.
The post “It doesn’t have a huge competitive ecosystem”: Esports World Cup CEO reveals why Fortnite didn’t feature at 2025 event appeared first on Esports Insider.
