By Sagar V. Mankar 
Smilegate has officially announced that Crossfire, its popular first-person shooter (FPS), will be included in the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This partnership will span three years, similar to the collaboration Level Infinite and EWC had with Honor of Kings and PUBG since last year’s tournaments.
With this announcement, Crossfire becomes part of the growing list of 18 confirmed titles for the 2025 EWC. In comparison, the 2024 edition featured 21 games across 22 different competitions, showing how the event continues to expand. Crossfire’s inclusion also marks the second new title added to the 2025 lineup, following Chess, which was revealed earlier this month.
The Crossfire announcement follows the conclusion of the Crossfire World Championship, where the Chinese organization Evolution Power claimed the trophy.
Ina Jang, CEO of Smilegate Entertainment, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “The inclusion of Crossfire in the Esports World Cup 2025 marks a significant milestone for both the game and its global esports ecosystem. 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.”
Launched in 2007, Crossfire has garnered massive popularity, particularly in China, where the CFPL league was established in 2019. The game’s influence even extended to entertainment, with the release of a Chinese drama series, CrossFire, in 2020.
Considering the involvement of the Chinese organization Hero Esports (formerly known as VSPO) as a major backer for the EWC, and the strong online viewership from Chinese audiences, it’s no surprise that another popular Chinese title, alongside Honor of Kings, is joining the event.
For more information on the Esports World Cup and Crossfire updates, keep an eye on official announcements.