“We’re in an esports spring”: EA’s Monica Dinsmore on ALGS 2025 & other EA games

As 2025’s ALGS Open kicks off, athletes have gathered from around the world to compete in a massive Apex Legends tournament. Esports Insider sat down with Monica Dinsmore, Head of Esports at EA, to discuss the company’s vision for competitive Apex and esports as a whole.

Monica provided unique insight into the extensive effort that goes into official Apex tournaments, the ALGS, and how competitive gaming could rise in popularity in the coming decade. Here’s what Monica Dinsmore had to say about the state of competitive esports in 2025.

Esports has had a rocky history, but Monica believes that we’re finally out of winter and into an “esports spring.” As more competitive titles blossom into esports, established games, like Apex Legends, will only continue to solidify their presence as esports titans.

Dinsmore told Esports Insider:

“I really feel like we’re in an esports spring. I have a lot of optimism for where we’re at right now. We’re now positioned to grow in a much more mature and strategic way as an industry. 

“I think we’ve all, kind of, been through the battle, and I think we’re going to do it right this time. Players and teams have a lot more opportunities, as their business models are maturing. I see a lot of steady and strategic growth in a way that’s going to be much more sustainable.”

Esports is finally at a point where it has been consistently growing as an industry for a while, so hopefully, it’ll only get bigger as we move further.

The ALGS Open features 160 teams in 2025, including underdog champion of Year 4 – GoNext Esports. We asked Monica about what she expects to happen during the ALGS, and she voiced support for the lesser-known teams competing this May.

Dinsmore said:

“We really wanted to provide more opportunities for players to come and join, and the chance to make it to the finals. I’d love to see an underdog story. It would be so cool to see somebody who came out of nowhere and could compete because of the structure of the ALGS Open.”

It’s impossible to predict exactly who will win the May competition, but tournaments like the ALGS Open provide an opportunity for smaller teams who might not get many chances to go pro, as even an underdog could prevail. 

GoNext Esports presented a unique victory as an underdog team, which could happen again in 2025 thanks to the ALGS Open’s format.

Competitive Apex is consistently growing in popularity, but it’s not the only EA game with esports potential. Monica believes other EA games could eventually rise to popularity in the competitive gaming scene, though it depends on player trends and the community reaction. She told Esports Insider: 

“I would love to bring esports to a lot more games, but we won’t force it. The way that we think about building an esports ecosystem is really about how players play, so we’re not just trying to fabricate an esports system out of a game pre-launch. There have to be elements within the game that support competition at the highest level. Ranked systems and certain aspects of viewership capabilities need to be there.”

Games with unofficial tournament scenes or competitive features built in are the most likely to become an esport, but a lot goes into creating programs like the ALGS, so EA has to be selective about what it pursues.

“You see how much goes into a program like the ALGS; it’s not a small investment. Smart investment and building things around what the community wants is the way to do it, in my opinion,” Dinsmore said.

Apex Legends will continue to receive esports support for as long as fans are interested, and with the ALGS Open 2025 being one of the biggest competitions in Apex history, it doesn’t look like it’ll lose support anytime soon.

One of the key points that Monica touched on was her love for the esports industry. As the Head of Esports for EA, she’s had the opportunity to experience exciting fan reactions up close. She said:

“One of the things that I love the most about esports is that feeling when the doors open; you can experience the surprise and delight of the fans as they come in and see all their favourite players. They get to interact with devs, and it makes it a celebration of that community.”

It takes significant effort to organize a tournament like the ALGS Open, and Monica has had a part in building countless experiences for Apex fans over the last decade. Fan support drives EA staff, like Monica, to keep innovating in the esports industry.

“It’s just one of those things that keeps bringing you back, and it’s a huge source of pride and excitement for me,” said Monica.

Monica Dinsmore voiced EA’s support for esports as a whole, especially regarding Apex Legends. Competitive gaming has grown significantly throughout the last decade, partly due to Electronic Arts’ support for the industry.

Dinsmore’s perspective shows EA’s focus on building a strong esports community. As the ALGS Open 2025 begins, there’s hope for new underdog stories and moments that connect fans and organizers. 

As the industry enters the “esports spring,” EA aims to grow thoughtfully by listening to players.