The 2025 Identity V esports calendar features major tournaments from January through November, including COA VIII (January-May), IVT NA-EU (July), IVS (September), and IJL Fall (November). REJECT's historic IVS victory marks Japan's first international title, while viewership predictions suggest significant growth across all regions based on expanding prize pools and enhanced competitive formats.
Identity V 2025 Tournament Schedule Overview
Here's what caught my attention right off the bat: 2025 is absolutely packed with Identity V competitive action. We're talking tournaments running practically year-round, which honestly feels like NetEase finally getting serious about the global esports scene.
The big story? REJECT just made history at the 2025 Identity V Stellaris Challenge Invitational (IVS) in Shanghai this past September. First Japanese team to ever claim an international title. That 800,000 yuan prize pool ($113,000 USD) didn't hurt either.
But let's rewind to where it all begins. Call of the Abyss VIII (COA VIII) kicked off December 26, 2024, and it's running all the way through May 2025. The tournament structure's pretty intricate: Zephyr Hollow preheat (wrapped up January 2), Leviathan Shore (January 2-16), Ancient Passage (January 16-23), and Oblivion Expanse rankings starting January 23. Registration closed January 14 at 09:00 server time—hope you didn't miss that deadline.
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The Identity V Tournament NA-EU (IVT NA-EU) already wrapped up July 5-6, 2025. Mobile-only format with a $27,911.89 prize pool. Before You took the crown, with Omni as runner-up among 8 teams. Solid showing for the Western scene.
Complete Tournament Calendar by Quarter
Q1 2025 was intense. Leviathan Shore ran January 2-16, immediately followed by Ancient Passage (January 16-23). Online Qualifiers hit in February—and here's where things get competitive. Only the top 100 teams advance, with top 50 for smaller divisions. That's some serious gatekeeping.
Q2 2025 brings the main event: COA VIII Live Global Finals in April/May. Twenty teams total, and the regional distribution tells a story: Chinese Mainland gets 9 spots, Japan gets 5, Southeast Asia and NA-EU each get 2, South Korea and Chinese HK-MO-TW get 1 each. Those numbers reflect the current competitive landscape pretty accurately.
Q3-Q4 rounds out the year nicely. IVT NA-EU (July 5-6), 2025 IVS (September 11-14), and IJL Fall Tournament Week Four (November 15-16, UTC+9).
One thing to note about COA VIII—teams need 1-7 players registered, but you need minimum 5 to advance through qualifiers. Points calculation's straightforward: (1 Hunter Points x2) + top 4 Survivor Points. Simple math, but execution? That's where it gets tricky.
Participating Teams and Player Analysis
Let's talk about REJECT's championship roster, because this lineup's worth studying. Survivors: Soba (@kona0603), City (@cityyV), Raolie (@raori), Unpyi (@unpii2213), fuku (@Fukufuku0037). Hunters: AKa (@TMW75641137), Alf (@Alf1_). Coach hhu (@hhubiribiri) clearly knew what he was doing.
Their tournament run was something else. Defeated MRC early on, pulled off a three-man escape against ZETA DIVISION (which had to sting for the Japanese rivals), then overcame ACT in the grand final. Alf's performance was absolutely decisive—his Hullabaloo play in the fourth set and Wax Artist in the fifth set culminated in a four-man elimination for the championship. Clinical stuff.
Regional powerhouses heading into 2025: Chinese Mainland's represented by the 2024 IVL Autumn champions, Japan's sending the 2024 IJL Fall champions, Southeast Asia's got the 2024 IVC champions, and NA-EU's dominated by Before You and Omni.
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Historical earnings paint an interesting picture. xawm leads with $180,755.84, followed by kucao ($176,823.30), PPXia ($172,887.95), and alf ($50,810.77). Notice how the top three are all significantly ahead? That's the Chinese dominance we've been seeing for years.
Viewership Predictions and Analysis
Here's where things get really interesting from a business perspective. 2025's tournament structure positions Identity V for serious viewership growth. The numbers don't lie: $6,071,260.92 in total prize money across 30 tournaments through 2024, with 90.59% coming from offline/LAN events. That's a massive investment in live competition.
Regional prize distribution tells the whole story: China ($4,537,843.41), Japan ($1,039,680.03), Thailand ($50,529.86). The gap's enormous, but REJECT's victory could be the catalyst Japan needs.
Speaking of REJECT—their win creates serious momentum for Japanese viewership, especially for IJL Fall events. Look at the prize pool evolution: COA V ($620,093.34), COA VI ($585,103.50), COA VII ($552,680.00). That downward trend suggests COA VIII might see an increase to reverse the pattern.
Tournament Formats and Competition Structure
The standardized format's pretty elegant once you understand it. Group Stage uses point accumulation through wins, machines repaired, survivors caught. Knockout Stage advances top teams through single-elimination to Grand Finals. Clean and competitive.
COA VIII's format breakdown: In-Game Tournament phases, Online Qualifiers (February 2025), Live Global Finals (May 2025, 20 teams). Best-of-three matches throughout, best-of-five finals. Standard esports structure.
Match scheduling's worth noting: Quick Matches run 12:00-22:00 server time, Ranked Matches get two windows (12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00). Daily limits keep things manageable: 6 matches max during preliminary, 5 matches during Ancient Passage (20 total).
Prize distribution for qualifiers: 1st place gets 2000 Fragments, 2nd gets 1500, 3rd gets 1200, 4th-8th get 800, 9th-16th get 600. Not life-changing money, but decent motivation for the grind.
Where and How to Watch IDV Tournaments
Official streaming happens on Identity V YouTube (@IdentityV). The 2025 IVS archives are already up with full REJECT championship coverage—definitely worth watching if you missed it live.
Regional streams vary significantly. IJL Fall hits Japanese YouTube, X, and TikTok from 12:00-20:00 UTC+9 (November 15-16). IVT NA-EU covered the Playoffs stage July 5-6. COA VIII's getting multiple language streams for the May 2025 finals.
Mobile viewing's optimized since the tournament uses mobile-only format. No PC emulators allowed—they're serious about competitive integrity.
Expert Predictions vs Community Forecasts
Analysts are projecting increased viewership based on several factors: REJECT's breakthrough victory, expanding prize pools, enhanced production values. Historical Twitch peaks hit 214 viewers with 77 average, but 2025 events should exceed those numbers significantly.
Key prediction factors: Prize pool correlation with engagement (proven relationship), regional champion impact (REJECT effect), international accessibility improvements, social media engagement growth.
REJECT's victory definitely impacts Japanese market predictions. Community forecasts align on Japanese growth potential but differ on magnitude. Season 39 (launched September 17, 2025) introduces 10-15% faster chair saves and 5-10% reduced healing efficiency—meta shifts that'll affect viewership engagement.
Impact on Identity V Competitive Scene
The 2025 calendar establishes a sustained competitive platform that feels more mature than previous years. REJECT's breakthrough demonstrates there's actually a pathway for non-Chinese teams, which should encourage increased organizational investment across regions.
Evolution indicators I'm tracking: Expanded regional representation, increased prize distribution, enhanced production quality, growing international collaboration between tournament organizers.
Meta evolution's centering around Season 39's mechanical changes. Sponsorship trends show growing commercial interest in the mobile-first competitive format—something that sets Identity V apart from PC-dominated esports.
Tournament Preparation Guide for Viewers
Here's your preparation checklist: Follow official YouTube channels, understand match formats (they vary by tournament), track team rosters and statistics, monitor qualification progress, and adjust viewing schedules for regional time zones.
Key storylines to monitor: REJECT's continued development, IJL Fall participants (DFM, AWG, SZ, FL, QTD, RC, AXIZ, ZETA DIVISION), COA VIII qualification drama, Before You's NA-EU dominance sustainability.
Official platforms provide real-time statistics, match data, player metrics, and strategic analysis. Community events include prediction contests, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes content that adds depth to the viewing experience.
FAQ
When are the major Identity V tournaments scheduled for 2025? COA VIII runs January through May, IVT NA-EU happened July 5-6, IVS concluded September 11-14, and IJL Fall wraps up in November. Each tournament has distinct qualification phases and regional requirements that teams need to navigate.
Which team won the 2025 Identity V Stellaris Challenge Invitational? REJECT from Japan claimed the 2025 IVS title, marking Japan's first international Identity V championship. They defeated ACT in the grand final after a lower bracket run, earning 800,000 yuan for their efforts.
How can I watch Identity V tournaments live? Official streams run on Identity V YouTube (@IdentityV), with regional events appearing on Japanese platforms. IVT NA-EU streams during Playoffs stage, while COA VIII Global Finals feature multiple language options.
What's the prize pool for COA VIII 2025? COA VIII 2025's prize pool hasn't been announced yet. COA VII awarded $552,680.00 total. Based on tournament expansion and investment trends, COA VIII should exceed previous distributions significantly.
How do teams qualify for major Identity V tournaments? COA VIII qualification involves in-game tournament phases, online qualifiers, and direct invites based on 2024 performance. Teams need 5+ players minimum, must complete regional requirements, and advance through elimination rounds.
What viewing tools are available for Identity V tournament analysis? Official platforms provide real-time statistics, match archives, player metrics, and strategic breakdowns. Broadcasts include expert commentary, team analysis, and educational content that helps viewers understand high-level play.