The Halo Championship Series (HCS) is back for 2025, bringing the most electrifying competitive Halo Infinite action to the global Esports stage. With an aggressive two-split format, four Majors, and a $1,000,000 World Championship finale, this season is shaping up to be a must-watch for Esports fans and competitive gaming enthusiasts alike.
Recapping the 2024 Halo Championship Series
Spacestation Gaming (SSG) asserted their dominance leading into the World Championship with back-to-back Major victories in Atlanta and Salt Lake City. The Halo World Championship 2024 was a spectacle, where Optic faced off against SSG in an unforgettable grand final. In a thrilling and baffling seven-game series SSG rallied from a 0-3 start to fully reverse sweep Optic and secured their first World Championship. SSG ended up winning 4/5 major events in the 2024 season cementing one of the greatest runs in Halo history.
Breaking Down the 2025 Halo Championship Series Season
Split 1: A Battle for Supremacy
The road to Arlington kicks off with a series of Open tournaments, where amateur and pro squads alike grind for points and bragging rights.
- Open Series ‘Road to Arlington’ (March 1–16) – A gauntlet of online qualifiers where teams fight for a shot at the season’s first Major.
- Online Qualifier (March 22–23) – The proving ground for squads looking to break into pool play at the first Major.
- HCS Major Arlington (April 18–20) – The first high-stakes LAN event at Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas, featuring a $250,000 prize pool.
With Arlington behind them, teams will refocus for Dallas, another make-or-break tournament.
- Open Series ‘Road to Dallas’ (April 26–27) – A fresh set of open qualifiers, keeping the competition fierce.
- Online Qualifier (May 3–4) – A last chance for teams to lock in their placements before the next Major.
- HCS Dallas DreamHack Major (May 23–25) – A marquee event within DreamHack Dallas, where the best of the best battle for another $250,000 in prize money.
Split 2: The Final Sprint
Teams that failed to make waves in Split 1 will need to regroup and recalibrate because Split 2 offers no room for mistakes.
- Open Series ‘Road to Salt Lake City’ (June 7–29) – A fresh batch of online battles setting up the next Major.
- Online Qualifier (July 12–13) – One last gateway to pool play for teams eyeing the top spots.
- HCS Salt Lake City Major (August 1–3) – Hosted at the Salt Palace Convention Center, this Major holds another $250,000 prize and crucial Championship seeding points.
After Salt Lake City, the last leg of the season leads to an event hosted by FaZe Clan, ensuring a high-energy send-off before the ultimate showdown.
- Open Series ‘Road to [TBA]’ (August 16–31) – One final set of open tournaments to decide who gets to compete in the final Major.
- Online Qualifier (September 6–7) – The last opportunity for teams to qualify.
- Halo Championship Series Major hosted by FaZe (Early Fall) – Dates are still under wraps, but expect FaZe to bring their signature hype to this pivotal event.
Halo World Championship 2025: The Pinnacle of Competition
It all comes down to this—Seattle, the birthplace of Halo, plays host to the biggest event of the year. The stakes? A $1,000,000 prize pool and the right to be called World Champions.
- Dates: October 24–26
- Location: Seattle Convention Center, Washington
- What to Expect: The ultimate clash of titans, community events, developer panels, and legendary storylines that will shape the future of Halo esports.
The 2025 Halo Championship Series season is a relentless, no-holds-barred circuit where only the strongest will survive. With powerhouse orgs, up-and-coming squads, and Halo’s most die-hard competitors throwing down for their share of glory, expect nothing less than an unforgettable year of esports.
Whether you’re a longtime Halo fan or a newcomer to the scene, this season has everything: upsets, rivalries, and world-class plays. Buckle up—because the fight for the Halo throne is just getting started.
