Delta Force Set to Make Esports Debut with $500K Invitational Tournament in China This September

Delta Force Invitational Open Qualifier (Image Credit: TiMi)

The free-to-play FPS Delta Force is officially entering the esports scene with its first-ever global tournament — the Delta Force Invitational (DFI) — which is set to kick off in September 2025 in China.

With a staggering $500,000 prize pool and over 1,000 teams expected to participate across eight international regions, this marks a significant step forward for the franchise.

The announcement was made by TiMi Studio Group and Team Jade shortly after confirming the console launch date for Delta Force as August 19.

According to its official post, the DFI will feature teams from regions including Japan, Korea, North America, and Europe. Registration for the open qualifiers began on July 14 and will remain open until July 27.

One odd detail? Despite being called an “invitational,” it’s open for public sign-ups. So it seems the event will mix both invited and qualified teams — although no clarity has been provided on how many spots are actually reserved for invitations.

Participants must be 18 years or older and cannot be classified as a “traveler or student,” as per the competition rules. The qualifiers will run from August 2 to 16, leading up to the Grand Finals in September. The final location hasn’t been revealed yet.

Here’s how the prize pool is broken down:

Open Qualifiers Finals

• 1st: $4,000

• 2nd: $3,000

• 3rd: $1,000

• 4th–6th: $500

• 7th–12th: $100

Grand Finals

• Champion: $150,000

• 2nd: $80,000

• 3rd: $50,000

• 4th–6th: $30,000

• 7th–12th: $20,000

The exact format and match structure have not been detailed yet, though the open qualifier system suggests a traditional bracket-style competition might be in place.

Following this announcement, TiMi and Team Jade also revealed an esports roadmap for the rest of 2025. This includes a special Elite Invitational on July 26 and Season 3 of the Global League, set to arrive in October.