🔥 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 controversy—especially among the Fortnite competitive community.
Despite DreamHack’s expansion, the Fortnite Open prize pool has been slashed to just $1,000, leaving players and fans outraged.
DreamHack Dallas 2025: Dates, Venue & Organizers
📅 Event Dates: May 23 – May 25, 2025
📍 Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas
🎮 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.
🎙️ Shahin Zarrabi, VP at EFG, shared:
“It will be the biggest multi-esports event ever hosted on American soil—a spectacle unlike anything the region has seen before.”
🏆 Key Esports Tournaments at DreamHack Dallas 2025:
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Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Dallas – 💰 $1,000,000 for Counter-Strike 2
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Call of Duty League Major IV & Challengers Open – 💰 $100,000
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Halo Championship Series Open – 💰 $150,000
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New Titles Introduced: Brawl Stars, GeoGuessr
⚠️ Fortnite Open Prize Pool Controversy
While other esports are seeing six-figure payouts, the Fortnite Open winner will receive just $1,000—a staggering 99.77% drop from the $427,430 prize pool in 2022.
📉 Community Reaction to Fortnite’s Prize Reduction:
🗨️ Elite Esports posted on X:
“DreamHack’s 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. That’s a 99.77% decrease.”
💬 BLZE, a member of Elite Esports, added:
“The winner will probably lose money after travel costs and etc. Absolute insanity.”
💸 Concerns Over Travel Costs & Value
Players are now questioning whether it’s worth attending the Fortnite Open LAN when:
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✈️ Travel and lodging costs could exceed the potential winnings
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🎟️ BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) passes cost upwards of $250
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💼 No travel stipends or meaningful rewards are being offered
The lack of investment is especially puzzling given Fortnite’s ongoing popularity, dedicated fanbase, and streaming presence.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Is This the End of Fortnite at DreamHack?
DreamHack’s decision to drastically reduce Fortnite’s prize pool while boosting other titles sends a clear message—Fortnite may no longer be a competitive priority at the event.
Unless Epic Games steps in to support Fortnite’s competitive scene or DreamHack reverses course, the future of Fortnite at major LANs like DreamHack is uncertain.
⚔️ What was once one of Fortnite’s premier competitive stages has now become a symbol of frustration.
🎮 Will the Fortnite community rally, or is this the beginning of the end for Fortnite at DreamHack?
