š„ DreamHack Dallas 2025 is shaping up to be one of the largest esports festivals in North America, with a massive $2 million prize pool spread across a wide array of competitive gaming and coding events.
However, what should have been a moment of celebration has instead sparked widespread controversyāespecially among the Fortnite competitive community.
Despite DreamHackās expansion, the Fortnite Open prize pool has been slashed to just $1,000, leaving players and fans outraged.
DreamHack Dallas 2025: Dates, Venue & Organizers
š
Event Dates: May 23 ā May 25, 2025
š Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas
š® Organized by: ESL FACEIT Group (EFG)
DreamHack Expands with More Games & Tournaments
This year, DreamHack Dallas 2025 is introducing several new competitions, while continuing to feature top-tier titles like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike 2, Halo, and Fortnite.
šļø Shahin Zarrabi, VP at EFG, shared:
āIt will be the biggest multi-esports event ever hosted on American soilāa spectacle unlike anything the region has seen before.ā
š Key Esports Tournaments at DreamHack Dallas 2025:
-
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Dallas ā š° $1,000,000 for Counter-Strike 2
-
Call of Duty League Major IV & Challengers Open ā š° $100,000
-
Halo Championship Series Open ā š° $150,000
-
New Titles Introduced: Brawl Stars, GeoGuessr
ā ļø Fortnite Open Prize Pool Controversy
While other esports are seeing six-figure payouts, the Fortnite Open winner will receive just $1,000āa staggering 99.77% drop from the $427,430 prize pool in 2022.
š Community Reaction to Fortniteās Prize Reduction:
šØļø Elite Esports posted on X:
āDreamHackās Prize Pool in 2019 was $250,000 and 2022 was $427,430. In 2025, they are hosting a $1,000 LAN. BYOC passes are $250. Thatās a 99.77% decrease.ā
š¬ BLZE, a member of Elite Esports, added:
āThe winner will probably lose money after travel costs and etc. Absolute insanity.ā
šø Concerns Over Travel Costs & Value
Players are now questioning whether itās worth attending the Fortnite Open LAN when:
-
āļø Travel and lodging costs could exceed the potential winnings
-
šļø BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) passes cost upwards of $250
-
š¼ No travel stipends or meaningful rewards are being offered
The lack of investment is especially puzzling given Fortniteās ongoing popularity, dedicated fanbase, and streaming presence.
š§ Final Thoughts: Is This the End of Fortnite at DreamHack?
DreamHackās decision to drastically reduce Fortniteās prize pool while boosting other titles sends a clear messageāFortnite may no longer be a competitive priority at the event.
Unless Epic Games steps in to support Fortniteās competitive scene or DreamHack reverses course, the future of Fortnite at major LANs like DreamHack is uncertain.
āļø What was once one of Fortniteās premier competitive stages has now become a symbol of frustration.
š® Will the Fortnite community rally, or is this the beginning of the end for Fortnite at DreamHack?
