The Halo Championship Series (HCS) Salt Lake City Major 2025, held from August 1–3 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, delivered a thrilling weekend of top-tier Halo Infinite competition. With 60 teams, a $250,000 prize pool, and a packed schedule of side tournaments and fan activations, this A-Tier event was a defining moment in Year 4 of Halo esports.
📊 Final Standings & Prize Distribution
| 🥇 Placement | Team | Prize | Charlotte Major Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shopify Rebellion | $100,000 | Yes |
| 2nd | OpTic Gaming | $60,000 | Yes |
| 3rd | FaZe Clan | $30,000 | Yes |
| 4th | Spacestation Gaming | $17,500 | Yes |
| 5th–6th | Team Nemesis, TSM | $8,000 | No |
| 7th–8th | Cloud9, ENVY | $5,000 | No |
Individual Awards:
- 🧠 MVP: LastShot
- 🛡️ Best Support: Falcated
- 🎯 Best Slayer: Royal2
- 🎮 Best Objective: Lqgend
- 🧢 Best Coach: Lunchbox
Highlights from the Championship Bracket
- Shopify Rebellion dominated the Grand Finals, sweeping OpTic Gaming 4–0 in a Best-of-7 series.
- FaZe Clan fought through the lower bracket with clutch wins over Spacestation and Team Nemesis before falling to OpTic in the Lower Final.
- Spacestation Gaming, the hometown heroes, made a strong run but were eliminated by FaZe in a tense 3–0 series.
🗺️ Map Pool & Game Modes
The tournament featured a diverse map rotation across modes like Slayer, CTF, Oddball, King of the Hill, Strongholds, and Assault. Key maps included:
- Aquarius
- Live Fire
- Recharge
- Solitude
- Origin
- Streets
- Fortress
- Forbidden
- Halo FFA Tournament: $5,000 prize pool, open to 256 players.
- Legacy Tournaments: Halo 2 4v4, Halo 5 2v2, Halo 3 2v2, Infinite S&D.
- Cosplay & Community Zone: Fans engaged with creators, merch booths, and hands-on activations.
The Salt Lake Major wasn’t just a showcase of mechanical skill—it was a celebration of Halo’s enduring legacy. Shopify Rebellion’s flawless run, OpTic’s resilience, and FaZe’s lower bracket grind all contributed to a narrative of grit and evolution. With the Charlotte Major on the horizon, the HCS ecosystem continues to reward consistency, adaptability, and strategic depth.