Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) 2025 officially kicked off on January 29, with the Play-In stage for Major 1. This year's FNCS offers a new divisional format, a transition to Trios gameplay, and a record prize pool of $8 million, distributed across several majors and the Fortnite global championship.

New Format and Major Stages

FNCS 2025 has introduced a divisional structure where players first go through the Divisional Cups, then compete in Play-Ins, the Group Stage, the Last Chance Qualifier, and the Major Finals.

• Play-In Stage (January 29-30, 2025): Top players in Division 1 in each region will compete in Trios for a spot in the Group Stage.
  
  
• Group Stage (February 2-9, 2025): Teams will be divided into three groups in Europe (EU) and North America Central (NAC), and into two groups in other regions. A Victory Royale in matches guarantees a place in the Major Finals.
  
  
• Last Chance Qualifier (February 12-13, 2025): Players not yet qualified will get a final chance to make it to the Major Finals.
  
  
• Major Finals (February 15-16, 2025): The top Trios from each region will compete for the FNCS prize pool and the prestigious Blade of Champions.

This four-stage structure will repeat for the three FNCS majors, concluding with the Fortnite Global Championship 2025 later this year.

Prize Pool and Global Championship Qualification

FNCS 2025 offers even greater rewards than previous years, with a total prize pool of $8 million. Regional major winners will earn a ticket to the Fortnite Global Championship, where they will compete against the world's top Trios.

Number of qualified teams from each region:

• Europe: 11 teams
  
  
• North America Central: 7 teams
  
  
• North America West, Brazil, Asia, Middle East, and Oceania: 3 teams each

If a team that has already qualified secures a qualifying spot again, the next best team on the leaderboard will take their place.

Blade of Champions – New Symbol of Victory in FNCS

Blade of Champions will replace Axe of Champions and become the symbol of the top Fortnite players in 2025. Current global FNCS champions, Peterbot and Pollo, will be the first players to receive the Blade, holding it until the conclusion of Major 1.

After each major, the Blade of Champions will be passed on to new winners, and only the best FNCS players will be able to wield this exclusive in-game item.

FNCS 2025 Schedule

Here are the key dates for all three FNCS Majors:

Major 1: January 29 – February 16, 2025

Major 2: April 9 – April 27, 2025

Major 3: July 16 – August 3, 2025

After Major 3, the top Trios from each region will compete in the Fortnite Global Championship, with the exact dates to be announced later this year.

How FNCS 2025 Qualification Occurred

To participate in FNCS 2025, players had to go through the Divisional Cups. Qualification was based on results from the FNCS Trial (December 7, 2024) and achievements in ranked modes. Players who reached Division 1 can participate in the Play-In stage that started on January 29.

In future seasons, new players will need to reach Gold rank in ranked modes to enter Division 3 and pave their way up through Divisional Cups.

Where to Watch FNCS 2025

While Divisional Cups are not broadcast, matches from the FNCS Play-In Stage, Group Stage, and Major Finals can be watched live on Fortnite's official channels.

With the updated format, record-breaking prize pool, and intense competition, FNCS 2025 promises to be the biggest and most intense year in the history of competitive Fortnite.