Team Vitality's acquisition of Bigetron Esports headlines roster moves ahead of Esports World Cup 2025
The Esports World Cup 2025 is just a couple of months away, and with most details about the multi-discipline spectacle now out, teams are busy finalizing the games they will participate in. With the Club Championship again on the line, many esports organizations are looking to sign rosters in games/regions they have previously not entered, making for an interesting period for fans.
This year, the much-vaunted Club Partner Program was also given some tweaks, with the Esports World Cup Foundation announcing that the number of teams was increased from 30 to 40. Open Signups would constitute 32 of these slots, while the remaining spots would go to the top eight sides from the 2024 Club Championship. The prize money kept aside for the program is $20 million, with the EWCF expecting millions of esports fans worldwide to tune into the summer's action.
Teams in the EWCF Club Partner Program
Team Vitality's acquisition of Bigetron Esports was the big recent talking point
One of the most significant roster news stories was Team Vitality acquiring Bigetron Esports earlier in May. The Indonesian side, founded by Edwin Chia in 2017, is one of the most popular names in the Southeast Asian market, having also acted as one of the founding members of the highly successful Mobile Legends Professional League Indonesia.
This comes a year after the French esports organization took over Bigetron Era, the women's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team of Bigetron Esports. The roster represented Team Vitality at the 2024 MLBB Women's Invitational, part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
Team Vitality's takeover of Bigetron Esports will undoubtedly aid it in accessing a larger fanbase in the East and meet its ambition of becoming a truly global entity. The latter is one of the most followed sides across, especially among mobile esports fans, in Indonesia and SEA, having left an indelible mark on fans of PUBG Mobile and MLBB.
The Corporate Director of Global Operations at Team Vitality, Danny Engels, revealed to Esports Charts that choosing Bigetron as the company's partner was an easy decision. With its esports experience in SEA and impressive teams in other mobile titles, like PUBG Mobile, it provides the French org with the full range of mobile gaming esports they are looking for.
"Our goal is to become the best esports organization in the world. We won't be able to claim such status if we do not have the best mobile gaming teams either. Of course, the Esports World Cup provides additional justification for certain moves in our ongoing expansion, but it's not the only reason why we wanted to dive deeper into mobile gaming. We do believe that Indonesia is a special place where esports has already become extremely popular and mainstream, especially Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Having a franchise in the MPL Indonesia has been an exciting thought, but the slots are obviously limited, with only nine teams in that franchise league. It is interesting to note that we had M&A conversations with half a dozen organizations in Southeast Asia and, over nine months, identified Bigetron as the best option. Not only have we acquired an MPL Indonesia franchise slot, but Bigetron also fields impressive teams in PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Free Fire, providing us the full range of mobile gaming esports that we were looking for."
- Danny Engels, Global Esports & Business at Team Vitality
Crucially, Bigetron Esports has rosters in four key mobile gaming titles, which will be crucial to Team Vitality's ambitions of becoming a truly global entity. Moreover, mobile gaming is experiencing rapid growth in Southeast Asia, so the French side has timed its entry into the market at the right time.
Danny Engels is sure that Bigetron's existing rosters will do well at EWC 2025, ensuring Bigetron by Vitality's journey to becoming a SEA powerhouse gets off to the right foot.
"We are confident that we can amplify Bigetron’s success and develop Bigetron by Vitality into a SEA powerhouse across all these games. While it may start with EWC 2025, our vision extends far beyond, we're focused on building long-term impact and growth. In addition to bringing Team Vitality's expertise to Southeast Asia, we're excited about what we can build with the region. Southeast Asia offers unique perspectives and dynamics that can inspire new models, whether it's evolving our academy systems or exploring more connected, community-driven experiences. The focus is less on EWC 2025 and much more on building an extremely strong foundation for future success in all regards: EWC, Regional Championships, Player & Youth Development, Commercial Success, and a profitable business for Team Vitality."
Here are other moves made in the top games and by prominent esports organizations this year, with the EWC 2025 in mind:
Chess
One of the top games introduced for the 2025 edition, chess has seen its fair share of roster moves as a result of teams looking to add to their club championship credentials. Here are some top organizations to throw their hats into the battle to conquer the 64 squares ahead of the summer:
- Team Vitality
- Virtus.pro
- Team Liquid
- Team Falcons
- Gen.G Esports
- Natus Vincere
- Weibo Gaming
- Team Spirit
- Team Secret
Some of the world's best players, including Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Hikaru Nakamura, and Ian Nepomniachtchi, have signed with these clubs. Sixteen of these professionals will gather in Riyadh to battle for the inaugural chess trophy and a massive prize pool of $1.5 million.
Readers must also note that some Grandmasters have qualified for the EWC 2025 but have yet to sign with any esports organization. There are a handful of names still in with a chance of qualifying but have not yet signed to any clubs, although that could change leading up to the much-anticipated chess event, especially if they book their tickets to the Middle East.
PUBG Mobile
The Battlegrounds Mobile India roster of S8UL Esports will also play in the PUBG Mobile segment. Meanwhile, one of Indonesia's top sides, BOOM Esports, almost entirely revamped its roster, bringing in as many as three players earlier this year.
2022 world champion S2G Esports did something similar, meaning it has a more global roster than ever before. Twisted Minds also brought in quite a few new players, including some French flavor in the form of Muhammad "KEVIN" Walid, and the Saudi side will hope that this time, it can convert good domestic performances into something more substantial in a global championship.
MLBB
MLBB has emerged as one of the most popular and followed games in all of esports, not just mobile gaming. With the EWC 25 Club Program rewarding teams participating in more titles, it is no surprise that many organizations, especially from the West, have jumped on the scene since 2024.
- S8UL Esports
- Aurora Gaming
- Natus Vincere
- Twisted Minds
- Team Falcons
With the new Chinese MLBB league kicking off earlier in the year, many top esports organizations from the country, including the legendary Invictus Gaming, joined the game's global esports ecosystem. The nation even had a representative, YBINGAME, at the highly successful ESL Snapdragon Pro Series: Mobile Masters 2025.
Honor of Kings
Honor of Kings is another interesting case in that it had its global release last year and has attracted much attention from Western teams. This has also meant that several high-profile organizations have bought out rosters from other established sides. There have also been some top teams that have signed lesser-known players, all to fight for a substantial prize pool of $3 million in Riyadh.
- OG Esports
- Gen.G Esports
- Twisted Minds
Free Fire
The Russian side Virtus.pro has been one of the few top names to venture into transfers related to Free Fire esports. It acquired the roster of Thai side Reverse Red, which had been consistent in domestic events and had a couple of important tournament victories between 2023 and 2024.
Apex Legends
The biggest news coming out of Apex Legends' joust at the EWC 2025 is that Natus Vincere has returned to the game by signing the roster of GoNext Esports. What made this move turn heads is that the European squad, consisting of former Blacklist International players, is the reigning world champion. Hence, there is a big chance the Ukrainian esports organization will go all the way in this battle royale competition, helping it in its quest to win the Club Championship race.
- Natus Vincere
- Al Qadsiah
- S8UL Esports
- ZETA DIVISION
Counter-Strike
As one of the legacy esports games, Counter-Strike has no shortage of roster moves every year. Add in the looming specter of the EWC 2025, and things have gone up a notch this year, with several shocking signings rocking the scene over the first five months of the year.
The hottest topic since April has been Team Falcons signing Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov from G2 Esports, reuniting him with Nikola "NiKo" Kovač. The team's performances have been pretty good since, and if they continue on this upward curve, things could shine bright in Saudi Arabia.
Another bold move was from FURIA Esports, who signed Danil "molodoy" Golubenko from AMKAL ESPORTS to replace the benched Marcelo "chelo" Cespedes. The side has not put up any eye-catching results since, but whatever matches it played at the highest level would have acted as apt preparation for the Saudi assignment.
Lastly, we have the Serbian esports organization Aurora Gaming taking over the roster of Eternal Fire. The Turkish roster did well to establish itself as a growing force in the Central European region, and Aurora will hope it can do well enough to earn a few Club Championship points come the summer.
League of Legends
So far, just one big roster move has been seen among League of Legends clubs participating in the Esports World Cup 2025. Jungle Yang "Beichuan" Ling joined Bilibili Gaming in early May as a substitute, with the 2024 World Championship runner-up looking to finally break its global jinx with victory in Riyadh.
MLBB (Female)
As the game in female esports, when it comes to viewership and a high prize pool, MLBB has attracted quite a lot of investment over the past few years. Again, Western organizations have shown a high propensity to make signings as they look to jump on the bandwagon of a title that continues to grow swiftly.
- Team Liquid
- Natus Vincere (two rosters)
- Aurora Gaming
- FUT Esports
- Gaimin Gladiators
Call of Duty / Call of Duty: Warzone
The top dog in the game, OpTic Gaming, has made some moves already, signing Mason "Mercules" Ramsay in May as it looks to get its season back on track with a statement win in Saudi Arabia. Ditto for Cloud9 New York, which added two players to its team in a bid to get its floundering season back on track. With the Black Ops 6 version mostly inviting its existing franchises for the EWC, most of the new rosters have come from the Warzone segment.
- S8UL Esports
- ONIC Esports
- FaZe Clan
- AG Global
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Fnatic
- Team BDS
- Team Falcons
- Movistar KOI
- 100 Thieves
Valorant
Korean side DRX moved quickly to sign Park "Estrella" Geon in April, and he played a part in sealing its berth in Riyadh via a second-place finish at the EWC Pacific Qualifier earlier this week. It was a similar story for NRG, as the American esports organization brought in Logan "skuba" Jenkins, who helped it win the Americas Qualifier and punch its ticket to the EWC 2025.
Dota 2
With a few slots still up for grabs at the EWC 2025, renowned teams like OG and Natus Vincere made roster tweaks as they looked to qualify. A few other sides have also attempted to give qualification a go as they signed entire rosters, as seen below.
- All Gamers Global
- The MongolZ
- MOUZ
StarCraft II
The field for StarCraft II is also wide open, with quite a few slots yet to be filled. With that in mind, many esports organizations have been busy inking deals with pro players and looking to get their names on the participation board at the EWC 2025.
- Sentinels
- Virtus.pro
- Weibo Gaming
- AlQadsiah Esports
- JD Gaming
- Twisted Minds
Overwatch 2
Only Japan's Crazy Raccoon has qualified for the OWCS Midseason Championship 2025, so there's a lot of action to come before we find out which sides have made it to the $1.05 million event. For now, teams like Al Qadsiah, Twisted Minds, and Team Peps have made additions to their rosters to fuel their qualification aims.
Rainbow Six Siege
With no side yet to make it through to this $2 million competition, a lot of esports organizations have been popping up with new rosters, hoping to catch the flight to Saudi Arabia. Sides like Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team Liquid, and Gaimin Gladiators have made changes to their squads as they prepare for the qualifiers.
- ArrivalSeven
- Cloud9
- Gen.G Esports
- Team BDS
EA SPORTS FC 25
One of the EWC 2025 games where all the players have confirmed (32 in total), EA FC is shaping up to be a cracker of a tournament. Staked to the brim with world-class talent, it also has some of the most recognizable football clubs on the globe, like Manchester City, Sevilla FC, Al-Nassr, and FC Lorient, participating.
- S8UL Esports
- Team Liquid
Teamfight Tactics
Another game where quite a few new rosters have popped up, Teamfight Tactics carried a prize pool of $500,00. It will see 16 teams battle it out, with names like Movistar KOI, Team Liquid, and Wolves Esports making tweaks to their playing squads.
- 100 Thieves
- Fnatic
- MOUZ
- Team Secret
- Virtus.pro
- Natus Vincere
- Weibo Gaming
- Team Falcons
- JD Gaming
- ONIC Esports
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Twisted Minds
PUBG
This game carries a prize pool of $2 million, one of the higher ones on the Esports World Cup 2025 lineup. As a result, quite a few teams are looking to enter the field, including CERBERUS Esports, Team Flash, and Natus Vincere, all looking to qualify via the qualifiers pathway.
- EDward Gaming
- JD Gaming
There will be a lot more transfers taking place as the lay of the land gets clearer, post the various qualification events, as we get closer to the Esports World Cup 2025. In case of any major moves, we will be sure to update this article or cover them separately.
Rocket League
One of the more intriguing games on this list due to the demographic of its most fervent viewers, Rocket League nevertheless always promises action for fans of sport and racing. So far, sides like Team HSK, Reborn Titans, and Gen.G Mobil1 Racing have modified their rosters, with lots more likely to come soon.
- Virtus.pro
- Movistar KOI
- Team BDS
CrossFire
A game mostly concentrated in the busy SEA market, CrossFire will be looking to make an impression during its EWC debut. To prepare for what could turn out to be one of the wildcard events when it comes to the Club Championship race, teams like Gaimin Gladiators, EDward Gaming, AG Gamers, and Geekay Esports have made roster changes, while many renowned organizations have signed entire squads, as seen below.
- Twisted Minds
- EVOS Esports
- Natus Vincere
- Team Secret
Fighting games
Fatal Fury is one of the games making its debut at the Esports World Cup 2025 and will need its players to put in some solid performances to justify its inclusion this year. It has attracted some renowned organizations in terms of investing in players, which is a good start, undoubtedly helped by the enticing prize money of one million dollars.
- S8UL Esports
- DetonatioN FocusMe
- Weibo Gaming
- AGGlobal Esports
- ONIC
Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 are the fighting games returning to Saudi Arabia in 2025, carrying prize pools of a million dollars each. Team Vitality, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and MOUZ were some of the prominent names to make new signings after getting confirmed as participants in the club program, while a few new names (listed below) entered the scene recently.
- Virtus.pro
- 100 Thieves
Rennsport has so far not recorded any transfers, although there will be qualifiers that will be conducted between now and the summer, meaning there will be activity between teams at some point. It will eventually be fought between nine teams for a prize pool of $500,000 in the second week of July.
The hype continues to build for the Esports World Cup 2025, which will be held from July 7 to August 24 in Riyadh, with the Boulevard Riyadh City returning as the host center. It will feature 25 events in 22 games, with over $70 million at stake, including $27 million for the 2025 EWCF Club Partner Program.
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