Even ahead of the game’s full launch, CD Projekt Red is already hard at work developing a competitive scene for its upcoming digital card game, Gwent.
The Polish developer has announced that it is introducing a three-tiered eSports series for Gwent that will ultimately dole out $850,000 in prizes to top ranking players across its first season.
And while CD Projekt Red isn’t the first game developer to fund or organize a competitive league for one of its games, the studio’s effort is still notable in the fact that the developer is working hard to drum up an eSports fervor for the game before it even emerges from its open-beta.
The first round of entry is open to anyone participating in the game’s on-going open beta, and grants high-ranking players entry to the second tier of tournament play and, eventually, to the Masters Tournament at the end of the season.
Additionally, the eSports push opens up the possibility for third-party organizers to host licensed Gwent tournaments, both online and on location, through a partnership with CD Projekt Red.
More information on the developer’s own tournaments, as well as details on how to host a lincensed event, can be found on the Gwent Masters website.