From the growth of mobile Esports and AI in video games to the dominance of Valorant, League of Legends and Counter Strike, gamers have plenty to look back on from the past year.

There’s much more coming in 2025, according to gaming experts at the University of Cincinnati. Students flock to the Esports Innovation Lab at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub to level up gaming skills and learn about emerging industry trends, so our team reached out to lab leaders. Below are 2025 Esports predictions from Esports Innovation Lab coordinator Gianna DiMona and UC Esports Club president Camilo Chaves-Galeano:

1. Mobile gaming continues its rise

Titles such as PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, Clash Royale and Free Fire have taken the Esports world by storm, rivaling even traditional games. While some fans consider mobile gaming a lesser form of Esports, that notion is fading as sophisticated AI rendering comes to mobile titles and top mobile games break into traditional Esports competitions.

2. Mergers, acquisitions and consolidation

As the Esports industry grows, it’s transformed into an increasingly appealing target for mergers, acquisitions and consolidation. Companies such as Microsoft, Riot Games, Tencent, Take-Two Interactive and Electronic Arts have bought gaming startups with high upside and popular titles.

How could increased consolidation impact the Esports industry? For one, it could encourage grassroots gaming startups to push the limits of innovation to get purchased by industry leaders. Many of the Esports world’s most innovative ideas begin with smaller businesses, so acquisitions should encourage bold ideas among industry heavyweights.

Another key aspect of today’s Esports industry: Saudi Arabia’s rise as a gaming titan. “Overall, Esports can expect a continued influx of capital from Saudi Arabia as the Esports World Cup returns to Riyadh in 2025,” Chaves-Galeano says. State-owned Savvy Games Group purchased Esports giants ESL and FACEIT to show how seriously it takes the industry, and Saudi Arabia will also host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games this year.

3. College Esports gains traction

2025 looks to be the year where many college Esports programs reach a point of maturation. Universities have moved past setting up gaming labs; they’re developing microcredentialing programs and Esports degrees such as UC’s bachelor’s in games and animation.

The reason for increased investment in college Esports: universities nowadays view gaming as beneficial for students’ career and educational outcomes instead of simply as a recruiting tool. Schools are now considering ways to boost monetary sustainability in college Esports – and often find plentiful opportunities.

Larger brands in the Esports industry are supplying college scholarships to top-tier players, reducing universities’ scholarship needs. Colleges are also boosting Esports sustainability by selling club-related merchandise and by hosting gaming tournaments in their Esports labs. Finally, Chaves-Galeano notes that “even tournament organizers outside the nationally established collegiate leagues have begun deploying collegiate initiatives.”

4. New titles take the scene

Older gaming titles are becoming stale among certain audiences, especially college-level players. Because of that, fresh offerings like Marvel Rivals were eagerly anticipated before their rollout while players look forward to the full release of titles such as Smite 2 and Deadlock.

“Many popular titles are over a decade old and struggle to keep their scene engaging,” DiMona says. “However, the arrival of these newer games has sparked excitement while still preserving the legacy of older titles that fans continue to revisit.”

Still, certain games have seen their popularity endure into 2025. Expect to hear more from Valorant, League of Legends, Fortnite, Apex Legends and other titles that performed well in 2024. While new games always foster excitement among Esports fans, there’s something special about playing a game you know and love.

UC, an Esports powerhouse

Making a career out of Esports is also possible, as seen by UC’s bachelor’s degree in games and animation and its game development and simulation concentration through the school’s information technology program. In the ever-evolving world of Esports in 2025, making money playing video games is certainly possible – and UC is ready to help any student along the way.

Featured image at top: Students game at UC's Esports Innovation Lab. Photo/Gregory Glevicky