Esports Awards 2025 Revamps with New Voting System

The Esports Awards 2025, set for Nov. 19 in Las Vegas, will mark the ceremony’s tenth anniversary, with major format and category overhauls. Organizers have scrapped legacy categories like “Esports Coverage Platform of the Year” and “Esports Journalist of the Year.” Remarkably, the judging process has shifted towards a new dual-system model, separating competitive merit from raw popularity.

The Dual System for Judging Value

The Esports Awards 2025 will use a two-tiered evaluation process that combines data-driven measures from performance analytics partners with public voting. This hybrid system seeks to increase selection transparency by giving weight to audience sentiment, in addition to quantifiable impact (viewership, engagement, media value).

Awards are also segmented into two divisions: “pro & industry categories” and “entertainment categories.” Awards like Esports PC Player of the Year or Team of the Year will fall under the former. This segment will be decided by combining a 75% expert panel vote and a 25% public vote. 

Awards such as “Streamer of the Year” fall under the latter category, and will be determined completely by public voting. The sole purpose of this technique is to measure audience influence and raw market reach. Public voting will end on Nov. 12, a week before the main event, giving organizers enough time to access the results and make decisions. 

Compared to previous editions, which mainly depended on internal juries and open voting, this is a significant change. Organizers say the change intends to reflect the full ecosystem by quantifying influence and rewarding infrastructural development and long-term contributions.

Nominees and 2025 Battlegrounds

Counter-Strike 2 observes a fierce battle in the Esports PC Player of the Year category, with renowned French player Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut and young breakthrough talent, Danil "donk" Kryshkovets, competing against each other. Due to the dual judgment structure, this category will probably reward statistical domination for the 2025 season above legacy status. 

The revamped awards structure will influence the Streamer of the Year category as well. With nominees including Kai Cenat, Darren "iShowSpeed" Watkins, and Félix "xQc" Lengyel, the winner here will be decided based on mainstream internet influence and community mobilization.

With every category highlighting contenders battling neck-to-neck, the Esports Awards 2025 is not limited to gameplay; it’s about ecosystem leadership, driving sustainable revenue, fan loyalty, and cross-regional expansion. On Nov. 20, the award ceremony will host a special B2B forum for industry executives and investors present during the event. 

Additionally, the organizers have expanded their broadcast and engagement strategy, permitting co-streaming across major platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and X. Organizers allow nominated streamers to host their own watch party, highlighting that creators themselves are among the biggest drivers of the event’s reach and relevance.