NetEase Announces $3M Marvel Rivals Ignite Tournament—Biggest Competitive Push Yet for the Hero Shooter

NetEase Games is going all-in on esports with Marvel Rivals Ignite, a global tournament boasting a jaw-dropping $3 million prize pool—the largest in the game's history. 

Of that, a cool $1 million is being reserved just for the Global Finals, set to take place in November 2025.

The announcement marks a major milestone for Marvel Rivals, signaling NetEase’s clearest commitment yet to turning the fast-paced hero shooter into a true esports juggernaut.

“Witness Glory, Resilience, and Absolute Cinema!” the official Marvel Rivals account teased in the announcement post—delivering MCU-level hype for what could be a defining moment for the game’s competitive scene.

Global Scale, Regional Firepower

The Ignite tournament will span five major regions:

• Americas

• Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA)

• China

• Asia

• Oceania

The competition kicks off in May 2025, with matches running throughout the year and culminating in the Global Finals in November.

While the basic structure is confirmed, many specifics—like qualification formats, team selection, and how players can enter—are still under wraps.

This has left fans speculating: Will it be open-entry like the Marvel Rivals Championships, or more exclusive like the earlier Invitational Series?

A Big Step Up From Previous Events

To put things in perspective, the previous Marvel Rivals Invitational series featured a total prize pool of $500,000, distributed across regional competitions. That event already saw major esports orgs jump into the action, and viewership numbers weren’t far behind some tier-1 titles.

Now, with Ignite offering six times the prize money, expectations are sky-high. The move instantly elevates Marvel Rivals into the big leagues of competitive shooters.

Marvel Rivals Ignite isn’t launching in a vacuum. NetEase has been stacking the deck with high-profile competitions, from the xQc Invitational to ongoing PlayStation Cups.