Game developer Smilegate has announced that its flagship FPS title Crossfire will be part of the 2025 Esports World Cup lineup.
Image Credit: Esports World Cup Foundation
Esports World Cup x Crossfire – a three-year partnership
The announcement came in the past few days, as the FPS title will be part of the multi-title esports tournament taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the upcoming summer. Details of the Esports World Cup 2025 Crossfire tournament, such as prize pool and format, have yet to be revealed.
Crossfire marks the 18th game title announced so far by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the tournament organizer behind the EWC. In comparison, the previous 2024 edition featured 21 game titles across 22 different competitions.
The second new game title featured
The FPS title marks the second new game for the EWC 2025, following the addition of Chess earlier this month. The game recently saw the conclusion of the world championship, as Chinese organization Evolution Power took the trophy.
“The inclusion of Crossfire in the Esports World Cup 2025 marks a significant milestone for both the game and its global esports ecosystem,” said Ina Jang, CEO at Smilegate Entertainment. “As one of the most popular FPS titles worldwide, Crossfire has fostered a dedicated community of players and fans over the past decade. Joining the EWC provides an exciting platform to showcase the skill, passion and competitive spirit of Crossfire esports to a broader audience, further solidifying its place on the global stage.”
Launched in 2007, Crossfire has grown heavily among the Chinese community, with a franchise league being created in 2019, the CFPL. The strong interest even brought the release of a Chinese drama series called Cross Fire in 2020 that had huge success upon release.
The Esports World Cup has been taking the esports scene by storm with its big prize pools and investments in the industry. Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the EWC raised discussions by members of the esports community regarding the country’s human rights record.