e esports arena with a $200,000 Global Invitational featuring teams from seven regions. From open qualifiers to Grand Finals in Hangzhou, the free-to-play hero shooter is set to make a major splash.
FragPunk, the chaotic and stylish free-to-play 5v5 hero shooter from NetEase Games, is stepping onto the global stage with its first-ever official esports event—the FragPunk Global Invitational. Featuring a hefty $200,000 prize pool, the tournament will run from April 28 to June 7, 2025, and bring together elite talent from seven international regions in a high-stakes battle for glory.
Representing North America, Brazil, Germany, France, Russia, Mainland China, and the Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan region, each team will be assembled under the leadership of regional captains. Notable names such as former VALORANT pro and streamer Tyson ‘TenZ’ Ngo (NA) and Russian content creator Dmitrii ‘Recrent’ Osintsev (RU) have already been announced, alongside other popular figures like Fugu (FR), TriLLuXe (DE), and Tck10 (BR). The captains are tasked with overseeing regional open qualifiers, selecting top talent to form their squads for the tournament’s next stages.
The FragPunk Global Invitational is structured in three phases. The action kicks off with local open qualifiers from April 28 to May 2, where players will compete on region-specific servers. Successful teams will advance to the regional finals from May 3 to May 11, contending for a $10,000 prize pool per region and a spot at the Grand Finals. From June 5 to 7, the best teams will face off live in Hangzhou, China, for a chance to claim the lion’s share of the $150,000 Grand Finals prize and the exclusive World Clash Championship Trophy.
This ambitious move into esports comes alongside a major content update—Season 1 Chapter 2—launching April 29. The update introduces a high-skill Lancer, a new Team Deathmatch map (Kepler Station “Aesir”), and 70+ new Shard Cards that add chaos and strategy to each match. Arcade modes also get a refresh, including the addition of “Classic Clash” (no Shard Cards) and “Headshot Only,” both designed to cater to various playstyles.
FragPunk has already tested the esports waters via Twitch Rivals and is supported by the seasoned hand of NetEase Games, which has experience running successful circuits for titles like Honor of Kings and Marvel Rivals. Its unique Shard Card mechanic, energetic visual flair, and flexible bomb-defusal gameplay offer a fresh twist to the hero shooter formula, making it an intriguing new player in the competitive gaming space.
With console launch plans on April 29 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, FragPunk is not only opening the gates to more players but laying the foundation for a global, cross-platform esports ecosystem. Whether this bold debut marks the rise of the next major esports remains to be seen, but FragPunk is entering the arena with confidence, style, and serious momentum.
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