Wildcard Launches $5,000 Pre-Season Open, Debuts Real-Money Competitive Play

Wildcard kicked off its first real-money tournament on December 19, 2025, launching a $5,000 Pre-Season Open during early access (PlayToEarn).

The event uses a single-day, leaderboard-based format, where players rank by their best single match score rather than elimination brackets. This structure lowers entry barriers and allows anyone to win with one standout performance, while boosting spectator appeal via livestreams (PlayToEarn; eGamers).

Key details

Format: One-day event (9:00 AM–midnight ET), best single-game score counts (PlayToEarn)

Prize pool: $5,000 split among top 64 players; 1st and 2nd earn $500 each (PlayToEarn)

Eligibility: Minimum 250 unlocked Season-0 Summons, driving bundle sales and community giveaways (@PlayWildcard on X)

The tournament is amplified by Team Liquid streamers bobqinxd and Lourlo, helping attract viewers and validate competitive interest (X).

Strategically, the event serves as a live test for Wildcard’s upcoming three-tier competitive ecosystem, expected to roll out in January 2026, and has already driven spikes in community engagement and social activity (PlayToEarn; X).

Bottom line: Wildcard is using accessible, score-based competition to bootstrap its esports layer early—testing demand, gameplay balance, and viewer interest before scaling its full competitive system.