Hey there, Fortnite fans! We’re now past the halfway mark of the 2025 Fortnite competitive season, and what a journey it’s been so far. The latest events in the Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) wrapped up in late April, giving us plenty to talk about. Let’s dive into what’s happening in the world of professional Fortnite!
Major 2 vs. Major 1: The Viewership Battle
If you’ve been keeping tabs on the viewership numbers, you might have noticed that Major 1 events generally pulled in larger audiences than Major 2. But here’s the interesting part – this wasn’t because of any drop in quality or excitement! Major A had a slight edge because Major 2 had to compete with some heavyweight esports tournaments happening at the same time.
Think about it – when Major 2 was running, we also had massive events from:
- League of Legends‘ LCK
- The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League
- Valorant Champions Tour’s exciting kickoff
- Counter-Strike 2’s IEM Melbourne 2025
That’s some serious competition for viewers‘ attention!
Europe Still Reigns Supreme
The European FNCS continues to be the crown jewel of Fortnite esports, with the FNCS 2025 – Major 2: Europe reaching an impressive 362,370 peak viewers during the nail-biting final game on Day 2. Yes, this was about 32% lower than Major 1’s numbers, but there’s a perfectly good explanation for that.
Remember Corentin “Gotaga” Houssein? The star streamer who helped Major 1 reach those astronomical numbers? Well, he was busy covering his team’s Rocket League matches this time around. And Martin “mrsavage” Andersen, another huge viewer-magnet from Major 1, had significantly less airtime during Major 2.
Despite these challenges, the European tournament still secured its place among the top 10 most popular FNCS events of all time – not too shabby!
North America Central Coming in Hot
The North American Central region is really stepping up its game this year. The FNCS 2025 – Major 2: NA Central – Grand Finals nearly matched Europe’s viewership, peaking at 349,045 concurrent viewers during its final round. That’s a 27% increase compared to Major 1!
Fans were treated to thrilling performances from fan favorites like Cody “Clix” Conrod, who secured his ticket to the Global Championship with a second-place finish. Unfortunately for inaugural world champion Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, the road to qualification has become more challenging – he’ll need a strong showing in Major 3 if he wants to compete on the world stage in Lyon this September.
Regional Performances: Who’s Up, Who’s Down
Looking at the other regions, we’re seeing some interesting patterns emerge:
- On the Rise: Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East all showed modest improvements in their peak viewership.
- Facing Challenges: Brazil and North America West experienced declines across all metrics, with NA West particularly struggling as their channel coverage dropped by over 100.
The Road to Lyon: Championship Slots Filling Up
With two FNCS Majors now in the books, 22 of the 33 slots for the season-ending FNCS 2025 Global Championship have been claimed. The championship will be hosted at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, this September – mark your calendars!
That leaves 11 berths still up for grabs, which teams will be fighting for in the coming months. The third and final FNCS Major is scheduled for July, so we’ve got plenty more high-octane Fortnite action to look forward to!
What Makes Viewership Numbers Tick?
When comparing the combined viewership of Major 1 and Major 2 events, we can see that while peak numbers dropped in Major 2, the average viewership remained relatively stable. This suggests that while fewer casual viewers might have tuned in for the big moments, the core Fortnite esports audience remains consistently engaged.
It’s also worth noting that star power makes a huge difference in Fortnite viewership. When popular streamers like Gotaga choose to broadcast an event, the numbers can skyrocket. This personality-driven viewership is something that sets Fortnite apart from many other esports.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Fortnite Esports?
As we look toward Major 3 in July, there’s everything to play for. With 11 Global Championship slots still available, expect the competition to be fiercer than ever as players fight for their chance to compete in Lyon.
While waiting for Major 3, there will be plenty of smaller tournaments to enjoy. If you’re looking to keep track of upcoming events, the Visit Esports website is an excellent resource – you can filter events by game, date, country, and more to stay on top of all the action.
The question on everyone’s mind now is: Can anyone challenge Europe’s dominance? Will NA Central continue its upward trajectory? And which star players will secure those final spots at the Global Championship?
Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure – the rest of the 2025 Fortnite esports calendar promises to be absolutely unmissable!
Stay tuned for more updates, and I’ll see you all in the Battle Bus!
Lex Northbyte 
Adrian Kovacs