LoL Worlds 2025: Sponsor Shoutouts Hit the Jackpot with Nearly 80% More Airtime
Esports fans, if you were watching League of Legends Worlds 2025 last weekend, you likely saw more than excellent plays, soul crushing knockouts and sponsor plugs everywhere. Audio mentions of brands on broadcast rocketed by 73% compared to 2024, according to new data from Esports Charts.
The grand finals between T1 and Gen.G was the cherry on top, pulling in over 6.5 million peak viewers, up 15% from last year, but it was the behind the scenes marketing magic that really stole the show. Riot Games and its partners clearly cranked up the integrations, turning the event into a seamless ad fest without killing the vibe.
Image soured EsCharts
Breaking Down the Numbers
Esports Charts pored through audio logs of the full event, and here’s a breakdown:
- Total Audio Mentions: 1,247 brand shoutouts across all the stages (compared to merely 698 at Worlds 2024) Showing extremely good growth.
- Grand Finals Spotlight: The final itself achieved 312 mentions — a 45% of the entire playoffs count.
- Top Categories: Gaming peripherals led with 32%, followed by energy drinks (28%) and apparel (22%).
Image soured EsCharts
Why the Big Jump?
Riot’s been playing the slow game here. With Worlds 2025 growing globally between Europe and Asia, sponsor ROI was a high priority. “We’re not just selling ads, we’re integrating brands into the story,” one Riot exec told us in a post show debrief. And it paid off, social chatter about sponsored moments jumped an average of 62%, according to the report.
Some critics may moan about “selling out,” but this cash helps larger prize pools ($2.5 million in 2025, a 20% jump) and slicker productions. which creates a better overall watch for the consumer.
Image soured EsCharts
What’s Next for Worlds Branding?
With the dust settling on Faker’s latest ring, eyes are set on 2026. Will the avalanche of audio intensify or be ramped down, should fans howl in protest? Esports Charts is forecasting ongoing growth, particularly with new markets like LATAM getting in on the action.
Conclusion: Worlds 2025 was not so much a tournament it was to show how to monetize hype. If you’re a brand looking to break into esports, pay attention, this is how to do it without stealing the show.
Since: October 29, 2025
