IEM Melbourne 2025: A new era of Counter-Strike begins 

Team Spirit has officially dropped out of IEM Melbourne 2025, just days before the action kicks off on April 21. ESL confirmed the Russian squad’s withdrawal on April 4, but didn’t give any reason. Filling the gap, Complexity Gaming is stepping up to the plate, getting the nod thanks to their spot in the Counter-Strike 2 Global VRS rankings. 

This isn't the first high-profile withdrawal from the event; G2 Esports, FURIA, and Astralis have also opted out, leading to a reshuffled lineup. The updated roster now features top-tier teams like Team Vitality, Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, and MOUZ. Notably, Team Vitality enters the tournament with momentum, having recently clinched the IEM Katowice 2025 title with a dominant 3-0 victory over Team Spirit. Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut earned MVP honors for his stellar performance in that event.​ 

IEM Melbourne 2025 will be hosted at the Rod Laver Arena, with playoffs scheduled from April 25 to 27. The tournament boasts a $1,000,000 prize pool and will follow a double-elimination group stage format, leading into single-elimination playoffs. All matches will be streamed live on ESL's official Twitch and YouTube channels.