Fortnite FNCS 2025 Pro-Am hits peak viewership, draws global applause

Fortnite’s long-awaited return to the Pro-Am format proved to be a resounding success, with the FNCS 2025 Pro-Am pulling in a peak of 643,995 viewers and recording over 2.3 million hours watched during its nearly five-hour broadcast. Held at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on May 10, the event marked a major milestone in the game’s evolving esports journey.Organized by BLAST and backed by Epic Games, the event featured 20 popular duos, each pairing a top-tier professional Fortnite player with a well-known content creator. The result? A high-energy tournament packed with action, entertainment, and fan engagement.The star duo of the night was Peter ‘Peterbot’ Kata and Shaun ‘AussieAntics’ Cochrane, who secured first place after six intense rounds. AussieAntics, a Dignitas streamer, teamed up with Peterbot, the reigning FNCS 2024 Global Champion and current Team Falcons player, to beat out stiff competition that included names like NickEh30, Clix, SypherPK, and CouRageJD.Despite a clear difference in age and prize earnings, Peterbot has earned nearly 40 times more than his teammate - the duo showed remarkable chemistry. Round 2 saw the event’s highest viewership as Clix and Lacy clinched a win, but it was Peterbot and AussieAntics who walked away champions.Beyond the competition, the Pro-Am delivered moments that fans won’t soon forget. A heat-induced power outage during Round 4 could have disrupted momentum, but CouRageJD quickly improvised by hosting a push-up challenge between SypherPK and NickEh30, much to the crowd’s delight.Fans tuning in were also rewarded with Twitch Drops, offering in-game items like an exclusive spray and backpack. Meanwhile, select AMC theatres across the US screened the event live, giving in-person audiences special redemption codes for Fortnite’s Axe of Champions 2.0 Pickaxe.Adding another layer of depth to the event was the presence of Heather ‘sapphiRe’ Garozzo, esports Hall of Famer and advocate for women in gaming. She praised the growing female representation, citing platforms like The Milk Cup as crucial entry points for aspiring players.The FNCS 2025 Pro-Am sets the stage for a busy esports calendar. Next up is Major 3, starting July 16, followed by the FNCS Global Championship in Lyon this September.With record-breaking viewership and fan-driven innovation, Fortnite’s competitive future looks brighter - and bigger, than ever.