[Call of the Abyss V] is divided into four phases in the following sequence: [The City of Lights], [Neon Corridor], [Ethereal Theatre], and [Color Out of Space].

1. The City of Lights (Registration Phase) will commence from December 23, 2021 to December 30, 2021. Club Captains can register for their clubs for free, and their club members are eligible to participate in the grand event.(All members of the Summer IVC Japan/Fall IVC Japan/IVC-Southeast Asia Champions shall be in the same club).

2. Neon Corridor (Preliminary Phase) will commence from December 30, 2021 to January 13, 2022. Registered clubs will compete with each other to earn various event-exclusive rewards. Unregistered clubs/individuals can also earn their portion of the rewards. Clubs competing in [Neon Corridor] battles will earn points, and the top 50 clubs fromJapan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and NA-EU will advance to the [Ethereal Theatre] phase.

3. Ethereal Theatre (Playoff Phase) will commence from January 13, 2022 to January 20, 2022. The top 50 clubs from Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and NA-EU that advanced from [Neon Corridor] will compete for points in [Ethereal Theatre]. The top 8 non-seeded clubs from each competing division will receive additional rewards and be invited to the Online Qualifiers. (If a seeded club is unable to participate, the invitation will be extended according to the rankings.)

4. The Color Out of Space (Ranking Announcement Phase) will commence after maintenance on January 20, 2022. The top 8 clubs in each [Ethereal Theatre] division will be invited to participate in the following Call of the Abyss V Online Qualifiers.

1. The City of Lights (Registration Phase) will commence from December 23, 2021 to December 30, 2021. Club Captains can register for their clubs for free, and their club members are eligible to participate in the grand event. (All members of the Summer IVC Japan/Fall IVC Japan/IVC-Southeast Asia Champions shall be in the same club).

2. Each club must register as a single unit. Only after registering can club members participate in Call of the Abyss V.

3. Once registered, clubs cannot be disbanded during the event.

4. If a Club member leaves their registered club, they will have to withdraw from the event temporarily. If this member wishes to participate further, they can choose to create/join a new club or join a registered club directly.

*During registration, players (excluding Mainland China players) must join or create a club. The Club Captain will choose the competing division according to their location and available servers: Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan/Japan/Republic of Korea/Southeast Asia/NA-EU. Once a competing division is chosen, it can't be changed.

*Each club may have 1-7 players. However, the in-game tournament will only take the total points from 5 club members with the highest points to determine the Club Points (specific in-game rules will prevail).

A minimum of 5 Club Members are required to qualify for both the Online Qualifiers and the Global Finals. No less than 50% and no less than 3 of the club members should be permanent residents of the club's registered division. Players can check the club's competing division via the Club interface.

*Note: Club members will not be able to quit, disband, or join other clubs after the event has started for a certain period of time, so please take note of the registration time and permitted club-changing time (specific in-game rules will prevail).

Neon Corridor (Preliminary Phase) will commence on December 30, 2021, 10:00 (Server Time). All players can participate to earn "Abyssal Whispers," which are tokens for exchanging event-exclusive rewards. Please note that taking part as a club will earn you better rewards! Clubs will also earn Club Points in Neon Corridor. The top 50 clubs from Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and NA-EU will advance to the next phase.

Server-wide Events

1. Individual Battle Quest: After the event begins, registered club members will begin to pile up Individual Battle Count by participating in any Quick Match, Ranked Match, or Duo Hunters battle.

2. Club Battle Quest: Registered club members can raise their Club Battle Count through Abyss Quick Matches and Abyss Ranked Matches.

After completing the events above, players can earn "Abyssal Whispers" to advance on the prize path and claim various rewards. The Abyssal Whispers Prize Pool includes Abyss A Costumes, Abyss B Costumes, Abyss Pets, Abyss Treasure, and many more!

Call of the Abyss V Club Battle Count

1. During the Neon Corridor phase, registered club members can raise their Club Battle Count by participating in Abyss Quick Matches and Abyss Ranked Matches.

2. When your Club Battle Count reaches certain tiers, all club members will receive the event-exclusive Portrait, Pet, and other rewards.

3. Players must be in a club for more than 12 hours and accumulate 10 Individual Battles in order to claim Club Battle rewards.

How to Obtain Club Points?

1. During the Neon Corridor phase, club members can earn Club Points through Abyss Quick Matches and Abyss Ranked Matches.

2. Abyss Quick Matches are available from 12 pm to 10 pm, and Abyss Ranked Matches are available during the same time as normal Ranked Matches. Due to the time difference, the Ranked Matches will not be available to the NA-EU division on Neon Corridor's last day. Clubs in the NA-EU division are advised to plan their participation time accordingly.

3. There is a daily limit and a total limit for obtaining Club Points during Neon Corridor. The daily limit for Survivors and Hunters is 6 matches each, and the total limit for Survivors and Hunters is 60 matches each.

4. Using Survivors will earn you Survivor Points, and using Hunters will earn you Hunter Points.

5. Your Individual Tier, Battle Results, Individual Deduction Points, and whether you played in Ranked Matches will affect the final Club Points.

6. The highest Hunter Points in your Club will first be multiplied by 2, then added to the sum of the four highest Survivor Points of the other members to calculate your Club Points.

What Are Club Points For?

1."Club Points" determines a club's ranking in the Neon Corridor phase. The members of the top 50 clubs will receive corresponding rewards and advance to the Ethereal Theatre phase.

2. When a club member is removed from the club by the Club Captain, the Club Points will no longer reflect their contribution. The member's individual Survivor Points and Hunter Points will not be affected.

3. When a club member withdraws from the club voluntarily, the member's Survivors Points and Hunter Points will be halved. However, Club Points will not be affected unless another club member has contributed more points than the member who withdrew from the club.

4.Starting from January 10, 2022, 00:00 (Server Time), clubs will no longer be able to replace club members until the end of the Neon Corridor phase.

Ethereal Theatre (Playoff Phase) will commence after the maintenance on January 13, 2022. All players can continue to complete event quests to earn "Abyssal Whispers." The top 50 clubs from Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and NA-EU can compete in Ethereal Theatre battles for Ethereal Theatre Points. The top 8 clubs from each competing division will receive additional rewards and advance to the Online Qualifiers.

How to Obtain Ethereal Theatre Points?

1. Ethereal Theatre is Call of the Abyss V's playoff phase. The top 50 clubs from the Neon Corridor phase can enter Ranked Matches via a special portal to earn Ethereal Theatre Points. The opening hours are from 19:00 to 21:00 between January 13, 2022 and January 20, 2022 (Server Time). Due to the time difference, the Ranked Matches will not be available to the NA-EU division on Ethereal Theatre's last day. Clubs in the NA-EU division are advised to plan their participation time accordingly.

2. There is a daily limit and a total limit for obtaining points during the Ethereal Theatre phase. The daily limit for Survivors and Hunters is 5 matches each, and the total limit for Survivors and Hunters is 20 matches each.

3. Using Survivors will earn you Survivor Points, and using Hunters will earn you Hunter Points.

4. Your Individual Tier, Battle Results, Individual Deduction Points, and whether you played in Ranked Matches will affect final Club Points.

5. The highest Hunter Points in your Club will first be multiplied by 2, then added to the sum of the four highest Survivor Points of the other members to calculate your Club Points.

What Are Ethereal Theatre Points For?

1. "Ethereal Theatre Club Points" determines a club's ranking in the Ethereal Theatre phase. Club members will receive rewards corresponding to their club's final ranking. Members of the top 8 clubs from Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and NA-EU will also receive the Call of the Abyss V Themed Portrait Frame.

2. The Ethereal Theatre Club Points Leaderboard reveals each region's club rankings.

Ethereal Theatre Ranking Rewards

·1st Place: Each member will receive 2,000 Fragments.

·2nd Place: Each member will receive 1,500 Fragments.

·3rd Place: Each member will receive 1,200 Fragments.

·Top 4-8: Each member will receive 800 Fragments.

·Top 9-16: Each member will receive 600 Fragments.

·Top 17-50: Each member will receive 500 Fragments.

Clubs eligible for the [Color Out of Space] Online Qualifiers and Live Grand Finals will receive the [Call of the Abyss V Themed Portrait Frame].

Color Out of Space is where the top 8 non-seeded clubs from Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and NA-EU will face off against each other in the subsequent Online Qualifiers.

Clubs eligible for the [Color Out of Space] Online Qualifiers and Live Grand Finals will receive the [Call of the Abyss V Themed Portrait Frame].

How to Qualify in Each Division?

1. [COA V Global Finals] 16 Clubs will be in participation—8 Clubs from Mainland China, 3 Clubs from Japan, 2 Clubs from Southeast Asia, 1 Club from NA-EU, 1 Club from Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan, and 1 Club from Southeast Asia. The final ranking of the 16 Clubs will be determined in the Grand Finals held in May 2022.

2. [Mainland China] 2 Clubs will earn direct access to COA V: The champions of the 2021 IVL Autumn Event and the club with the most season points (from the remaining Clubs). The Online Qualifiers for Mainland China will determine the remaining 6 clubs from the region.

3. [Japan] The winning clubs for 2021 Summer IVC Japan and Fall IVC Japan will earn direct access to COA V. The Online Qualifiers for Japan will determine the last remaining finalist from the region.

4.[Southeast Asia] The champion club from 2021 IVC-Southeast Asia will earn direct access to COA V. The online qualifiers for Southeast Asia will determine the last remaining finalist from the region.

5.[NA-EU, Republic of Korea, and Hong Kong & Macau & Taiwan] All COA V finalist clubs from these regions will be determined by Regional Online Qualifiers.

6.[Postponement Rules] After the end of the qualifiers in each region, tournament officials will contact the top 8 clubs according to the rankings to confirm whether or not they wish to participate in the tournament. If a club refuses to participate or cannot do so, the next club in line will be contacted.

7. [Cross-Region Registration Penalties] After the end of the qualifiers in each region, tournament officials will contact each of the top 8 clubs and collect information on their club members. If more than half of a club's members are not legal citizens or holders of valid permanent residency in their registered region, that club will forfeit the right to advance. Furthermore, the club's members will not be able to receive the exclusive "Ethereal Theatre" Portrait Frame.

Call of the Abyss V Grand Finals Schedule

1.The Call of the Abyss V Live Grand Finals consist of two phases—the Group Phase and the Elimination Phase.

2.In the Call of the Abyss V Group Phase, the 16 clubs will be divided into groups and compete in single round-robin matches. The 12 qualifying clubs will advance to the Elimination Phase.

3.The Call of the Abyss V Elimination Phase will be conducted in a double-elimination format to determine the 12 clubs' final rankings.

1Online Qualifiers Schedule and Definition of Terms

1.Definition of Terms

1.1.Game

"Game" refers to the Diary Deduction of a map in the Identity V mobile game, concluding when either of the following results is reached: 1) the Hunter wins, 2) the Survivors win, 3) a draw.

1.2.Match

A "match" refers to the process where players compete in a series of games: One game consists of two halves, and one match consists of several games, depending on it's a best of three match or a best of five match. The Qualifiers will be best of three matches.

1.3.Best of Three Match

A best of three match means the club that achieves better results over three games wins. Once a club achieves a conclusive victory, there is no need to play the remaining games.

2.Online Qualifiers Schedule

2.1.Date:

1) Republic of Korea/NA-EU: February 18-20, 2022
2) Southeast Asia/HK & MO & TW: February 25-27, 2022
3) Japan: March 4-13, 2022
4) Chinese mainland: March 19, 2022 - April 10, 2022

2.2.Calendar

2Participation Requirements

3.Player

3.1.Age and Nationality

1)chinese mainland
Players must be at least 18 years old. Chinese players (chinese mainland) under the age of 18 are prohibited from participating in the qualifiers of other tournament regions. For clubs that participate in the chinese mainland Qualifiers, more than half of their members shall be citizens of chinese mainland or bearers of the Foreigner's Permanent Residence Card. Non-Chinese players (chinese mainland) shall meet the age requirement for the chinese mainland region.
2)Japan
By the first competition day, Japanese players who are 20 years old or above may register the qualifiers at will. Players under the age of 20 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament. At least half of the members in a club participating in the Japan Qualifiers shall be citizens or permanent residents of Japan.
3)Republic of Korea
By the first competition day, South Korean players who are 19 years old or above may register the qualifiers at will. Players under the age of 19 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament. At least half of the members in a club participating in the Republic of Korea Qualifiers shall be citizens or permanent residents of South Korea.
4)NA-EU
By the first competition day, NA-EU players who are 18 years old or above may register the qualifiers at will. Players under the age of 18 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament. At least half of the members in a club participating in the NA-EU Qualifiers shall be citizens or permanent residents of countries in the NA-EU region.
5)Southeast Asia
By the first competition day, players representing the Southeast Asia region who are 18 years old or above may register the qualifiers at will. Players under the age of 18 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament. At least half of the members in a club participating in the Southeast Asia Qualifiers shall be citizens or permanent residents of countries in Southeast Asia.
6)HK & MO & TW
By the first competition day, HK & MO & TW players who are 18 years old or above may register the qualifiers at will. Players under the age of 18 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament. At least half of the members in a club participating in the HK & MO & TW Qualifiers shall have the Identity Card or the Permanent Residence Permit of HK & MO & TW region.

3.2.Player Names

Player names must not contain elements pertaining to vulgarity, pornography, terrorism, violence, gambling, or other content that violates the laws, regulations, policies, public order, and morality of the People's Republic of China and/or content related to in-game elements of Identity V. Players can choose a name consisting of 4-14 characters. The overall format will be "club name + personal name." The characters used must be English letters or numbers from 0 to 9. No other characters are allowed. Example: ABC_reference

3.3.Player information authenticity

Players should ensure that themselves participate in the competition, and ensure that the personal information submitted to the official is the real information of the players themselves. Players shall not make false reports or falsify personal information, account information, etc. The club captain also needs to ensure that the information of the players in the club is owned by the players themselves and is true and valid. If a player misreports information or falsifies information, the official has the right to punish the player and his club, including but not limited to disqualification from the competition, legal responsibility, etc., and the official has the right to take back the player and the club to which they belong. Competition results, including current and past obtained rankings, rewards, in-game rewards, etc.

4.Clubs

4.1.Club Qualifications

1)chinese mainland
8 clubs advanced from the preliminaries and 8 IVL clubs have obtained the qualification for the chinese mainland Qualifiers. 8 IVL clubs include：ACT、FPX.ZQ、GG、Gr、MRC、Weibo、XROCK、Reborn 2)Non-chinese mainland Regions After the Ethereal Theatre phase has concluded, Identity V will contact the Top 8 non-invited clubs in order of rankings and inquire about their willingness to participate in the Online Qualifiers. If any club waives or does not meet the requirements, the availability will be extended to the next club.

4.2.Club Names

Club names must not contain elements pertaining to vulgarity, pornography, terrorism, violence, gambling, or other content that violates the laws, regulations, policies, public order, and morality of the People's Republic of China and/or content related to in-game elements of Identity V.
Clubs can choose a name consisting of 2-6 characters. The characters used must be English letters or numbers from 0 to 9. No other characters are allowed.

3Lineup

5.Participants

5.1.Roster

During the tournament, each club is required to have at least five players and up to seven players. The roster consists of one captain and four to six players.

5.2.Roster Submission and Changes

1) Each club must submit the roster and the required information before the designated date in their region. Submission Deadline for chinese mainland: Beijing Time (UTC+8) 18:00, February 21, 2022. Submission Deadline for Japan: Beijing Time (UTC+8) 18:00, February 10, 2022. Submission Deadline for the Republic of Korea: Beijing Time (UTC+8) 18:00, January 27, 2022. Submission Deadline for NA-EU: Beijing Time (UTC+8) 18:00, January 27, 2022. Submission Deadline for Southeast Asia: Beijing Time (UTC+8) 18:00, January 27, 2022. Submission Deadline for HK & MO & TW: Beijing Time (UTC+8) 18:00, January 27, 2022. 2) Before the regional qualifiers begin, each club may make 2 changes to its roster (adding/substituting a player is regarded as 1 change, removing is unrestricted). Exchanging players among the 8 advanced clubs is prohibited. The changed roster must meet the above requirements as well. Any changes to the roster must be submitted to the Competition Organizing Committee for review before the deadline. The Committee will decide whether to approve it within three working days after submission.
If a club's final roster does not meet the requirement for the minimum number of players, its qualification will be extended to the next club.

5.3.Daily Roster Submission

The roster must consist of five starters and up to two substitutes. Starting lineup must consist of four Survivor players and one Hunter player. All members on the roster must indicate their factions. A player cannot switch factions between Hunter and Survivor within a single day's matches.
Before the match begins, each club must submit its roster to the Competition Organizing Committee via official channels within the designated time (before 22:00 on the day before the match), with five starters and up to two substitutes. If more than one rosters are submitted, the roster sent closest to the deadline shall prevail. Rosters submitted after the deadline will be regarded as invalid. If no roster is submitted within the specified time, the Organizer will register the club's starting roster from the previous game.

6.Substitutions

Any change, submission, and substitution of the roster shall be subject to the version submitted by the Club Captain.

6.1.Roster Replacement

During the qualifiers, clubs can replace their rosters for the following day via the official channel within the designated time, according to article 6.2 hereof. If no request has been received within the time limit, it shall be deemed that there are no changes to the roster.

6.2.Emergency Replacement

Where it is necessary to request changes to the roster after the specified time due to an emergency, the club must notify the Organizer promptly and submit sufficient supporting evidence. The Organizer will review the evidence to determine whether the situation qualifies as an emergency and has the right to verify the veracity of the evidence provided by the club. If the application is submitted past the deadline, the Organizer will be unable to make proper arrangements for new players to participate in the tournament. The Competition Organizing Committee's ultimate decision will be made based on the supporting evidence provided and the actual situation.

6.3.In-match Substitution

Clubs can substitute their players after a game, and they must notify the referee within 3 minutes after the previous game and obtain permission. Each club has 2 chances for Hunter substitution and 2 chances for Survivor substitution in a single match (BO3).
Before the Ban & Pick, the referee shall be properly informed of the substitution.

4Competition Format

7.Non-Chinese mainland Regions

7.1.Republic of Korea/NA-EU/HK & MO & TW/Southeast Asia

7.1.1.Tournament Date Republic of Korea/NA-EU: February 18-20, 2022 (local time, 3 competition days). HK & MO & TW/Southeast Asia: February 25-27, 2022 (local time, 3 competition days). 7.1.2.Format The first-round matchups of the 8 clubs will be drawn by the referee. The format is BO3 Single Elimination, and the winner will be advancing to the Global Finals. The map selection priority for each match will be determined by drawing lots.

7.2.Japan

7.2.1.Tournament Date Japan: March 3-6, 2022 and March 11-13, 2022 (local time, 6 competition days). 7.2.2.Format The first-round matchups of the 8 clubs will be drawn by the referee. The format is BO3 Double Elimination, and the winner will be advancing to the Global Finals. The map selection priority for each match will be determined by drawing lots.

8.Banning Rules

8.1.Map and Faction Selection Rules

1) The map for the first and second half of a game must remain the same.
2) Maps: Arms Factory, Red Church, Sacred Heart Hospital, Lakeside Village, Moon River Park, Leo's Memory, Eversleeping Town, and Chinatown.
3) Selection Sequence:
Before the start of each game, map selection and faction selection rights will be allocated. The club with map selection right will select the map for the first game, and the other club will select the faction order. The selection order will be alternately switched for each of the following games. Note: From the third game onward, the club with map selection right must select either Banning Mode A or B: Banning Mode A: The other club may ban one of the maps available for selection. Your club can then select the map for this game, and the other club selects the faction order. Banning Mode B: Your club bans one of the maps available for selection. The other club can then select the map for this game, and your club selects the faction order. 4) Map Selection Rules:
Clubs are not allowed to select a map that has already been selected during the same match. Banned maps cannot be selected or banned again during the same match.

8.2.Character Ban & Pick

1) B & P Sequence:
The B & P Sequence consists of six phases: ① Hunter banning phase 1. ② Survivor banning phase. ③ Survivor picking phase 1. ④ Hunter banning phase 2. ⑤ Survivor picking phase 2. ⑥ Hunter picking phase. The order and details of each game's B & P process are as follows: a)Game 1 ①Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character ②Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters ③Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character ④Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters ⑤Hunter Picks Hunter Character b)Game 2 ①Hunter Bans 2 Survivor Characters ②Survivors Ban 1 Hunter Character ③Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters ④Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character ⑤Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters ⑥Hunter Picks Hunter Character c)Game 3 ①Hunter Bans 3 Survivor Characters ②Survivors Ban 2 Hunter Characters ③Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters ④Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character ⑤Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters ⑥Hunter Picks Hunter Character 2) Numbers of Ban & Pick: The numbers of B & P corresponding to each game and B & P phase are as follows: Note: The first and second half of each game require players to re-ban characters. During the B & P phases of each half-game, the order in which Survivor characters are assigned does not necessarily correspond to players' seating arrangement or their positions in the in-game room. After four Survivor characters are selected, Survivors can decide the character they will each play in the game. The number of bans in a BO3 tiebreaker is the same as the number of bans in Game 3) Competition Bans: "Little girl", Novelist, “Nightmare" and Weeping Clown are banned from the game. The rest of the characters can be played (including "Undead")

9.Points Rules

In each game, clubs will obtain points according to the following rules: The condition for determining the outcome of each game is the sum of points from the first and second half. The club with the higher points will be the winner and vice versa. Clubs will be awarded a draw if their points are the same.

10.Victory & Defeat

1) In BO3 matches, a match ends if a club wins the first 2 games. Otherwise, the match will continue.
2) Tiebreaker Rules a) In the case of a tie (such as 1 Win, 1 Tie, 1 Loss), priority will be given to the club with the higher Total Points. b) If both teams' Total Points remain the same, an extra game will be played. The winner will be determined according to the points of both sides. c) If the points of the clubs are still the same in the tiebreaker, the number of escapees of both clubs during the halves when they play as Survivors will be compared: 1) If one or more Survivors escaped, the match duration of both clubs would be used as the basis for deciding the winning club. The club with the shortest time wins. 2) If neither club escaped while playing as Survivors, the match duration when they played as Hunters will be used as the basis for deciding the winning club. The club with the shortest time wins. Note: A screenshot will be taken from the Hunter's record as the basis of the tiebreaker.

5Competition Rules

11.Game Version and Server

11.1.Account

The Organizer will provide players with accounts for the tournament server. Players must set up their accounts according to their reported personal information and in-game preferences. Account names must be approved by the Organizer before they can be used in the official matches.
The Organizer reserves ownership of the competition accounts. Trading accounts or changing passwords may lead to penalties.

11.2.Tournament Server

All matches will take place on a dedicated tournament server and Competition server version: Official server updated version Jan, 13. 2022. NAEU online qualifier is the official server, current version.

12.Competition Devices and Network

Players shall use their personal touch-screen devices and network services (desktops, laptops, or emulators are strictly prohibited) during the online qualifiers.

13.Communication Software

To ensure the orderly operation of the tournament, players must use the software designated by the Organizer for communication. Communication must be carried out under the referee's supervision.

14.Event Monitoring

To ensure fair competition, players must cooperate with the Organizer by preparing the corresponding monitoring equipment or software, including but not limited to cameras, video monitoring software, voice monitoring software, among others. Players are required to participate in the event monitoring process, including but not limited to pre-event verification, in-event monitoring, post-event examination, among others. If players fail to carry out the event monitoring as required in that case, the Organizer reserves the right to conduct penalties, including but not limited to revoking clubs' right of map selection, event qualification, and the clubs' competition results, including their previous and current rankings, qualifications, prizes, in-game rewards, among others.

15.Tournament Procedure

15.1.Before the Competition

15.1.1.Server Login
Participants must log in to the tournament server 20 minutes before the game. 15.1.2.Pre-game Testing
Players must perform a test after logging in to the tournament server. Players must complete the test 3 minutes before the start of the match and inform the referee when they are ready to compete. The test includes but is not limited to device tests, network tests, communication device tests, and in-game warm-ups. If the player's testing time exceeds the allowed timeframe, the referee has the right to demand the player to conclude the test immediately and prepare to enter the game. 15.1.3.Ready Status　
Once all players have confirmed with the Organizer that they are ready to compete, they will enter the "Ready" state. Players must return to the game's main interface and await the official invitation to join the game. At this point, players are forbidden from setting up their devices or undertaking any other actions that hinder the competition's progress. 15.1.4.Game Start Time
Once players are ready, the match will start according to the scheduled time. If any problem arises during the preparation period, the match may be delayed. Whether the circumstances of the situation are acceptable and whether the start time is delayed shall be decided by the Organizer. When deeming a delay unacceptable, the Organizer reserves the right to punish the player who caused the delay. 15.1.5.Game Room Creation　
The Organizer will create an official game room. After the test, players shall follow the instructions and enter the game room immediately.

15.2.Game Proceedings

15.2.1.Ban & Pick Process　　
Once all players enter the official game room, the Organizer will confirm that both clubs are ready for the Ban & Pick phase. Once it has been confirmed that both clubs are ready, the Organizer will instruct the room owner to start the game. 15.2.2.Recording Ban & Pick　
The Ban & Pick process will be completed through the Custom Mode function on the tournament server. If Ban & Pick is completed under the official instructions before the preparation phase, the Organizer will record the Ban & Pick, and players shall compete according to the confirmed results of the Ban & Pick. 15.2.3.Incorrect Picks　
During the Ban & Pick phase, if players, coaches, and clubs cause any mistakes due to their own fault, the game will proceed normally without restarting. This includes but is not limited to: 1)Missing B & P due to tactics discussion 2)Missing character B & P due to the prolonged discussion 3)Incorrect B & P due to miscommunication or players' own fault If players are unable to conduct B & P due to special circumstances such as network and server failure, the B & P process will restart. The restart must be completed under the official staff's instruction throughout the process, and the Organizer reserves the right to decide whether the B & P should restart or not. 15.2.4.Starting the Game After Ban & Pick
The game will start immediately after the B & P phase is completed unless the Organizer states otherwise. After the B & P phase is completed and before the deduction phase begins, players will not be allowed to quit the game. 15.2.5.Controlled Start
If the game starts in an erroneous state, or the Organizer decides to separate the B & P phase from the game, the game can be started in Custom Mode, and all players shall select characters according to the effective B & P prior to this. 15.2.6.Client Functionality Delay
If a game bug, disconnection, or any other technical difficulties interrupt the loading process, causing players to be unable to join the game. In that case, the game must be suspended immediately until all the players have connected to the game. 15.2.7.Banned Game Settings
Players are not allowed to use "Escape" and "Just Deserts" in the course of a match. 15.2.8.Others
If players are stuck or unable to operate due to in-game issues, the game can be suspended according to the rules.

15.3.Post-game Proceedings

15.3.1.Results　　
The Organizer must confirm and record the results of the game. 15.3.2.Technical Records　　
Any technical issues will be confirmed with the Organizer. 15.3.3.Forfeits　
If a club forfeits the game, the opponent club will win (BO1) according to the largest leading margin (for example, Hunters will be deemed to have eliminated 4 players, and Survivors will be deemed to have had 4 escapees), and match points will be calculated accordingly. No other data will be recorded for forfeited games.

15.4.Post-match Proceedings

15.4.1.Results　　
The Organizer shall confirm and record the match results and confirm the results with the players. Players need to submit written confirmation through official communication channels. 15.4.2.Next Match
Players will be informed of their current ranking and the scheduled time of the next match. 15.4.3.Post-match Obligations　
Players will be informed of all post-competition obligations, including but not limited to participating in media events, interviews, and any in-depth discussions on competition-related matters. 15.4.4.Controversial Match Results
If a dispute arises during an ongoing match, the Club Captain and players must defer to the referee. If a participant disagrees with the referee's decision, they can appeal to the Competition Organizing Committee in accordance with appeal procedures. Players may appeal to the referee on duty within 3 minutes after each game. The referee and the Competition Organizing Committee reserve the right to reject any appeal made outside the time limit. The Organizer will conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation. During an official investigation, clubs and their players are forbidden from making public comments on the incident under investigation. The club and its players are not allowed to publicly question other clubs or players. Otherwise, penalties might be carried out. Once the official results of an investigation are announced, the club and its players shall not object to the results and shall not publicly question any official decision.

16.Pausing Rules

16.1.Pausing the Game

During the online qualifiers, each club has one 3-minute timeout in each half-game. When a timeout is called out, players must immediately explain the reason to the Organizer, and the referee reserves the right to decide to maintain the timeout or continue the game. When clubs run out their timeouts, they can promptly inform the referee through the communication software if any emergency arises again. The referee reserves the right to decide whether a timeout should be issued.

16.2.Forced Pausing

The Organizer can pause the game at any time or request players to pause the game at its sole discretion.

16.3.Player Pauses

Players can pause the game in emergencies and must explain the reasons for doing so to the Organizer after the pause. Acceptable reasons include but are not limited to:
1) Network failure
2) Hardware or software problems
3) Health issues
The Organizer will evaluate the situation and determine if the player can continue the game within a reasonable period. If the Organizer does not approve the reasons put forward by the player, the Organizer reserves the right to punish the player and their club.

16.4.Unpausing

Once all players have been informed and are ready to continue the game, spectators on the match server can unpause the game.

17.Rematch Rules

17.1.Rematch Regulations

During the match, if an unexpected situation affects the fairness of the competition or causes the game to stop, the Organizer reserves the right to decide whether the match should be restarted. This includes but is not limited to ruling to restart one or more tournament processes and restarting one or more games. The Organizer will decide according to the situation, and all clubs shall comply with the said decision.

17.2.Limits After Restarting

After the restart, the factions, characters, and maps must remain the same as those selected before.

18.Rules for Sudden Victory & Defeat

If a game is not played to the end for any reason, and the remaining games cannot change the match results, the Organizer has the right to decide the winning club directly.

19.Forfeiture

Suppose a club decides to forfeit any match during the tournament. In that case, the Club Captain must submit written confirmation to the Competition Organizing Committee on behalf of the club via official communication channels and bear all consequences and responsibilities arising from there. For the consequences of forfeiture, see 16.3.2.
If a club forfeits all of its matches and decides to withdraw from the tournament, the Club Captain must submit written confirmation to the Competition Organizing Committee on behalf of the club via official communication channels and sign the Quitting Statement. The club must bear all consequences and responsibilities arising from there. Subsequent matches involving the club will be treated as byes. The Organizer reserves the right to revoke the club's competition results, including its previous and current rankings, qualifications, rewards, among others.
In principle, the clubs are not allowed to withdraw from the tournament. However, if the club insists, the Organizer will assume that the club has waived its rights to participate in Identity V tournaments. The club will no longer be allowed to participate in future Identity V-related tournaments, and the Organizer reserves the right to penalize the club and its members.

20.Referee

20.1.Referee Duties

The referee is an official staff member responsible for officiating match-related problems, questions, and situations before, during, and immediately after matches, including but not limited to:
1)Verifying the personal information, account information, and devices of players before the match
2)Announcing the start of games
3)Initiating pausing/unpausing of games
4)Imposing penalties on those who violate the rules
5)Confirming the end of each match and match results.

20.2.Referee Behavior　

Throughout the tournament, referees are expected to behave professionally and make fair judgments. Referees must not show favoritism or prejudice toward any player, club, owner, or other individuals.
If an emergency arises during the matches, players shall obey the referee's instructions to continue or stop competing.

20.3.Final Rulings

If a club doubts any ruling, it can appeal through methods stated in 16.4.4. The Organizer reserves the right of final decision upon all rulings during the tournament.

20.4.Global Licensing

The Organizer has the right to take pictures, videos, and audio recordings of the event. Clubs should complete the confirmation of all procedures of the Qualifiers, including but not limited to [Ban & Pick of the Characters and Maps and Player Roster]. The confirmation can be presented verbally or in writing. If a club does not complete the confirmation within the specified timeframe, it is deemed to have authorized and agreed with the Organizer to decide on behalf of the club at its sole discretion, and the club should strictly conduct the decision.

6Competition Organizing Committee

21.Competition Organizing Committee Composition

The Competition Organizing Committee is composed of NetEase Games and Identity V development team members.

22.Amendments and Supplements

To ensure the fairness and integrity of the tournament, the Organizer has the right to amend, change, or supplement the Rules at any time, according to the actual situation. For any matters that have not been adequately specified or explained in the Rules, the explanation from the Organizer or the other rules and conducts formulated by the Organizer shall prevail. The Organizer has the right to publish and implement amendments, changes, or supplements to the Rules above, as well as the interpretation and formulation of new rules via mail, online announcements, printed announcements, or any other appropriate method.
Should any conflict arise between the contents of communications with the Organizer and officially published rules, the official rules shall prevail.

23.Force Majeure

In the event of force majeure (including but not limited to natural disasters, such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods, hail; government actions; social incidents, etc.) that prevent the match from continuing, the final results of the match will be decided by the Organizer.

24.Livestream Copyrights

The Organizer owns all documents, images, and audio-visual materials related to the tournament. Unauthorized use by any group or individual is strictly prohibited, and violators will be prosecuted.

25.Final Decision

The Organizer reserves the final right of interpretation for all of the terms and conditions in the Rules as well as the punishment adjudication for misconduct.

1Schedule and Definition of Terms

1.Definition of Terms

1.1.Game

"Game" refers to the Diary Deduction of a map in the Identity V mobile game, concluding when either of the following results is reached: 1) the Hunter wins, 2) the Survivors win, 3) a draw.

1.2.Match

A "match" refers to the process where players compete in a series of games: One game consists of two halves, and one match consists of several games, depending on whether it's a best of three matches (BO3) or a best of five matches (BO5).

1.3.Best of Three Match (BO3)

A best of three matches means the club that achieves better results over three games wins. Once a club achieves a conclusive victory, there is no need to play the remaining games.

1.4.Best of Five Match (BO5)

A best of five matches means the club that achieves better results over five games wins. Once a club achieves a conclusive victory, there is no need to play the remaining games.

2.Competition Schedule

2.1.Group Stage

1)Event Period: April 16, 2022 to April 21, 2022 (6 competition days)

2)Schedule:

2.2.Elimination Stage

1)Event Period: April 30, 2022 to May 3, 2022 (4 competition days)

2)Schedule:

3.Prizes

Total Prize Pool: RMB 4,000,000 (tax included)

2Participation Requirements

4.Player

4.1.Age and Nationality

1)Chinese Mainland

Players must be at least 18 years old. Players from the People's Republic of China (Chinese Mainland) under the age of 18 are prohibited from participating in the Global Finals in other regions.

For clubs from the Chinese Mainland, more than half of their members shall be citizens of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Mainland) or bearers of the Foreigner's Permanent Residence Card. Players that are not citizens of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Mainland) are still required to meet the age requirement of the Chinese Mainland region mentioned above.

2)Japan

Japanese players who are 20 years old or above may freely register for the competition. Players under the age of 20 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament.

At least half of the members in a club from Japan shall be citizens or permanent residents of Japan.

3)Republic of Korea

Korean players who are 19 years old or above may freely register for the competition. Players under the age of 19 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament.

At least half of the members in a club from the Republic of Korea shall be citizens or permanent residents of the Republic of Korea.

4)NA-EU

Players who are 18 years old or above may freely register for the competition. Players under the age of 18 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament.

At least half of the members in a club from NA-EU shall be citizens or permanent residents of countries in the NA-EU region.

5)Southeast Asia

Players who are 18 years old or above may freely register for the competition. Players under the age of 18 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament.

At least half of the members in a club from Southeast Asia shall be citizens or permanent residents of countries in Southeast Asia.

6)HK & MO & TW

Players who are 18 years old or above may freely register for the competition. Players under the age of 18 but over the age of 16 may register with a signed and sealed Guardian Consent Letter. Players under the age of 16 cannot compete in the tournament.

At least half of the members in a club from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan shall have the Identity Card or the Permanent Residence Permit from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan region.

4.2.Player Names

Player names must not contain: Elements pertaining to vulgarity, pornography, terrorism, violence, gambling, or other content that violates the laws, regulations, policies, public order, and morality of the People's Republic of China and/or content related to in-game elements of Identity V.

Players can choose a name consisting of 4-14 characters. The overall format will be "club name + personal name." The characters used must be English letters or numbers from 0 to 9. No other characters are allowed.

Example: ABC_reference

4.3.True Player Information

Players must ensure that they are participating in person and the personal information submitted to the Organizer is true. Players are prohibited from providing false personal information, account information, or other information. Club Captains must ensure that the personal information submitted by the club's players is their own valid information.

Suppose players are found to have provided false information. In that case, the Organizer reserves the right to impose penalties on the player and the player's club, including, but not limited to disqualification, pursuing a legal claim, and revoking the clubs' competition results (including their previous and current placings, prizes, and rewards, among others).

5.Clubs

5.1.Club Qualifications

A total of 16 clubs will participate in the Global Finals.

8 clubs from the Chinese Mainland, 1 club from HK & MO & TW, 3 clubs from Japan, 1 club from the Republic of Korea, 2 Clubs from Southeast Asia, and 1 Club from NA-EU.

5.2.Club Names

Club names must not contain: Elements pertaining to vulgarity, pornography, terrorism, violence, gambling, or other content that violates the laws, regulations, policies, public order, and morality of the People's Republic of China or content related to in-game elements of Identity V.

Clubs can choose a name consisting of 2-6 characters. The characters used must be English letters or numbers from 0 to 9. No other characters are allowed.

3Lineup

6.Participants

6.1.Club Roster

During the tournament, each club is required to have at least five players and up to seven players. The roster consists of one captain and four to six players.

6.2.Personnel

The roster must consist of five starters and up to two substitutes. Starting lineup must consist of four Survivor players and one Hunter player. All members on the roster must indicate their factions.

6.3.Roster Submission

Before the match begins, the club captain and club staff must submit its roster to the Competition Organizing Committee via official channels within the designated timeframe (before 22:00 on the day before the match), with at least five starters and up to two substitutes on it. If more than one roster is submitted, the roster sent closest to the deadline shall prevail. Rosters submitted after the deadline will be regarded as invalid. If no roster is submitted within the specified timeframe, the Organizer will register the club's starting roster from the previous game.

Please submit the roster before the deadline to: COA_Committee@service.netease.com

7.Substitutions

Any change, submission, and substitution of the roster shall be subject to the version submitted by the club captain and club staff.

7.1.Roster Replacement

During the competition, clubs can replace their rosters for the following day via contacting the Competition Organizing Committee through official channels within the designated timeframe, according to article 6.3 hereof. If no request has been received within the time limit, it shall be deemed that there are no changes to the roster.

Please submit the roster before the deadline to: COA_Committee@service.netease.com

7.2.Substitution During a Match

Clubs have 3 minutes to decide their substitution after a game. 2 chances for Hunter player substitution and 2 chances for Survivor player substitution are allowed in a single match (BO3 or BO5). The final outcome will be determined by the club's decision during the substitution phase.

In case of special circumstances, the Competition Organizing Committee has the right to make the final decision.

4Competition Format

8.Group Stage

8.1.Format

In the Global Finals' Group Stage, 16 clubs will be divided into 4 groups to play BO3 round-robin matches. The 1st club in every group will enter the second round of the elimination stage and compete in the quarterfinals. Every group's 2nd and 3rd place clubs will enter the first round of the Elimination Stage to compete for the 4 remaining openings in the quarterfinals. The 4th place club in every group will be eliminated.

The groups will be decided by the referee via the drawing of lots. The lots for all 16 clubs will be placed into their groups according to the order in which they're drawn (1-16). The groups are decided as follows:

8.2.First Pick

During the Group Stage, the right to first pick in every round will be decided by the club captains and staff of both clubs by drawing lots. The club with the right to first pick will possess the right to select the map for game 1 and the right to ban and pick maps in games 3 and 5.

8.3.Placing Rules

Placings in the Group Stage of the Global Finals will be determined in the order of wins, win-loss ratio, net wins, average points, draws, and average decoding progress.

Note:
Net Wins: Wins - Losses.
Average Points: Average Survivor points + average Hunter points.
Draws: Draws in a losing match - draws in a winning match.
Average decoding progress: The average of the total decoding progress from every game, subject to the actual real-time decoding progress when the game ends.
The outcome of additional rounds in the Group Stage will only affect the number of wins, and it won't be considered in the other criteria for placing.

8.3.1.Two Clubs with a Similar Placing

If 2 clubs have a similar placing, they will be placed based on the following rules:

A comparison of the matches between the two clubs will be used, and the winning club will be placed higher.

8.3.2.Three Clubs with a Similar Placing

If 3 clubs have a similar placing, they will be placed based on the following rules:

(a)The net points of all 3 clubs will be considered first, and the club with the higher net points will be placed higher.

(b)If net points are similar, a comparison of average points will be used, and the club with the higher average points will be placed higher.

(c)If average points are similar, a comparison of draws will be used, and the club with a better draw record will be placed higher.

(d)If both clubs share the same draws, a comparison of average decoding progress will be used, and the club with higher average decoding progress will be placed higher.

9.Elimination Stage

9.1.Format

This phase consists of 12 clubs. Every group's 2nd and 3rd place clubs will enter the first round of the Elimination Stage to compete for the 4 remaining openings in the quarterfinals. The 1st club in every group will enter the second round of the Elimination Stage and compete against the Elimination Stage's first-round winners. The format will be single-elimination knockout. BO3 for the first round and BO5 for the rest.

The first elimination round in the Group Stage of the Global Finals will be decided by the referee via the drawing of lots. The groups are decided as follows:

9.2.Match Advantage

The clubs placed 2nd in the Group Stage are granted the right to first pick in the first round of the Elimination Stage. The clubs placed 1st in the Group Stage will similarly be granted the right to first pick in the second round of the Elimination Stage. As for the third round of the Elimination Stage, the third-place match, and the championship match, the right to first pick will be decided by way of drawing lots or other methods.

10.Banning & Picking Rules

10.1.Substitution, Map, and Faction Selection Rules

1) Substitution Rules

The first game must be played by the club's starting lineup. Refer to article 6.3 for the rules on starting lineups.

Substitutions can be made from game 2. Refer to article 7.2 for the substitution limit.

2) Selection Right Rules

No selection authority will be conferred in games 1 and 2.

In the first game, the club with the right to first pick (hereinafter referred to as "Club A") will possess the right to select the game's map. The other club (hereinafter referred to as "Club B") will select the faction order;

In the second game, Club B possesses the right to select the game's map, and Club B will select the faction order;

From the third game onward, Club A will select either banning modes a. or b., and the two clubs exchange the right of selection in each game:

a)The other club may ban one of the maps available for selection. Your club can then select the map for this game, and the other club selects the faction order.

b)Your club bans one of the maps available for selection. The other club can then select the map for this game, and your club selects the faction order.

3)Map Banning and Selection Rules:

a)The map for the first and second half of a game must remain the same.

b)Match Maps: Arms Factory, Red Church, Sacred Heart Hospital, Lakeside Village, Moon River Park, Leo's Memory, Eversleeping Town, and Chinatown.

c)Clubs are not allowed to select a map that has already been selected during the same match. Banned maps cannot be selected or banned again during the same match.

d)Suppose a club doesn't have any maps available to select. In that case, the map selection right will be conferred to the other, and your club receives the right to select the faction order

4)Selection Sequence:

The selection sequence consists of 5 phases: 1. Substitution Phase. 2. Selection Right Phase. 3. Map Banning Phase. 4. Map Selection Phase. 5. Faction Selection Phase.

The order and details of each game's selection sequence are as follows:

a)Game 1
①Club A completes map selection
②Club B completes faction selection

b)Game 2
①Both clubs make substitutions
②Club B completes map selection
③Club A completes faction selection

c)Game 3
①Both clubs make substitutions
②Club A exercises its right to select banning modes
③The club with the right to map banning can complete map banning
④The club with the right to map selection can complete map selection
⑤The club with the right to faction selection can select factions

d)Game 4/BO3 Overtime
①Both clubs make substitutions
②Club B exercises its right to select banning modes
③The club with the right to map banning can complete map banning
④The club with the right to map selection can complete map selection
⑤The club with the right to faction selection can select factions

e)Game 5
①Both clubs make substitutions
②Club A exercises its right to select banning modes
③The club with the right to map banning can complete map banning
④The club with the right to map selection can complete map selection
⑤The club with the right to faction selection can select factions

f)BO5 Overtime
①Both clubs make substitutions
②Club B exercises its right to select banning modes
③The club with the right to map banning can complete map banning
④The club with the right to map selection can complete map selection
⑤The club with the right to faction selection can select factions

10.2.Character Ban & Pick

1) Ban & Pick Sequence:

The Ban & Pick Sequence consists of six phases: 1. Hunter banning phase 1. 2. Survivor banning phase. 3. Survivor picking phase 1. 4. Hunter banning phase 2. 5. Survivor picking phase 2. 6. Hunter picking phase.

The order and details of each game's Ban & Pick process are as follows:

a)Game 1
①Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character
②Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters
③Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character
④Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters
⑤Hunter Picks Hunter Character

b)Game 2
①Hunter Bans 2 Survivor Characters
②Survivors Ban 1 Hunter Character
③Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters
④Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character
⑤Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters
⑥Hunter Picks Hunter Character

c)Game 3
①Hunter Bans 3 Survivor Characters
②Survivors Ban 2 Hunter Characters
③Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters
④Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character
⑤Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters
⑥Hunter Picks Hunter Character

d)Game 4
①Hunter Bans 4 Survivor Characters
②Survivors Ban 3 Hunter Characters
③Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters
④Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character
⑤Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters
⑥Hunter Picks Hunter Character

e)Game 5
①Hunter Bans 4 Survivor Characters
②Survivors Ban 3 Hunter Characters
③Survivors Pick 2 Survivor Characters
④Hunter Bans 1 Survivor Character
⑤Survivors Pick 2 Remaining Survivor Characters
⑥Hunter Picks Hunter Character

2) Numbers of Ban & Pick:

The numbers of Ban & Pick corresponding to each game and Ban & Pick phase are as follows:

Note:

The first and second half of each game require players to re-ban characters. During each half-game's Ban & Pick phases, the order in which Survivor characters are assigned does not necessarily correspond to players' seating arrangement or their positions in the in-game room. After four Survivor characters are selected, Survivors can decide the character they will each play in the game.

The number of bans in a BO3 tiebreaker is the same as the number of bans in the third game, and the number of bans in a BO5 tiebreaker is the same as the number of bans in the fifth game.

3) Competition Bans:

The Organizer will announce pre-banned characters from time to time. Pre-banned characters will not be included in the list of banned characters.

11.Points Rules

11.1.Competition Points Rules

In each game, clubs will obtain points according to the following rules:

The condition for determining the outcome of each game is the sum of points from the first and second half. The club with the higher points will be the winner and vice versa. Clubs will be awarded a draw if their points are the same.

12.Victory & Defeat Rules

1) In BO3 matches, a match ends if a club wins the first 2 games. Otherwise, the match will continue.

2) In BO5 matches, a match ends if a club wins the first 3 games, or wins 3 games and draws 1 game/wins 2 games and draws 2 games in the first 4 games. Otherwise, the match will continue.

3) In the Elimination Stage, if a winner is decided before the match is completed, the remaining games don't have to be played, and the match ends immediately.

The details of BO3 matches are as follows:

I. When a club has 1 win, 1 draw, 0 losses, it gets 5 points in the first half of game 3.

II. When a club has 1 win, 0 draws, 1 loss, it gets more than 5 points by the end of the first half of game 3.

The details of BO5 matches are as follows:

I. When a club has 2 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, it gets 5 points in the first half of game 4.

II. When a club has 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, it gets more than 5 points by the end of the first half of game 5.

III. When a club has 1 win and 3 draws, it gets 5 points in the first half of game 5.

IV. When a club has 1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss, it gets more than 5 points by the end of the first half of game 5.

12.1.Tiebreaker Rules

1) In the case of a tie (such as 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss), priority will be given to the club with the higher total points.

2) If the total points remain the same, an extra game will be played. The winner will be determined according to the points of both sides.

3) If both clubs still have the same points in the additional match, the first deciding factor is to look at both clubs' escapes during their rounds as Survivors: 1) If at least one of the Survivors escaped, the Survivor's match duration of both clubs is used as the basis for deciding the winning club. The club with the fastest time wins; 2) if neither club escaped as a Survivor, the Hunter's match duration is used as the basis for deciding the winning club. The club with the fastest time wins.

Note: Screenshots of Hunter's records will be used as the basis of tiebreaker metrics.

5Competition Rules

13.Game Version & Server

13.1.Accounts

The Organizer will provide players with accounts for the match server. Players need to set up their accounts according to their reported personal information and in-game preferences. Account names must be approved by the Organizer before they can be used in the official matches.

13.2.Match Server

All matches will take place on a specific tournament server, and the Organizer will specify the version of the game used in the tournament.

13.3.Competition Server Selection

During the tournament, the server node will be selected according to the region of the competing participants.

The following is the arrangements of the competing nodes for each region, which may be adjusted by the Organizer according to the actual situation:

14.Competition Devices

14.1.Provided Devices

Players shall use the devices provided by the Organizer throughout the tournament. Devices include:

(1) Mobile phones (iPhone 11) and cables;
(2) Headsets, earphones, or microphones;
(3) Desks and chairs.

14.2.Replacing Devices

Should a technical issue or any other issue arise, which may affect a player's ability to participate and compete in the tournament, the player or the Organizer has the right to request a technical inspection of such issue. The Organizer's technical personnel will inspect and determine any faults, and relay their inspection results and suggestions to the Organizer. The Organizer will assess any issues with the devices and has the right to decide whether to replace them. Replacement devices will be provided by the Organizer.

14.3.Voice Chat

Players can only chat through headsets provided by the Organizer and can only use the internal system to engage in voice chat. Unless the Organizer decides to change voice chat methods due to special circumstances, players are not allowed to use any third-party voice chat software. The Organizer may exercise the right to monitor club voice chat in all matches.

14.4.Audio Settings

The controls will clearly display the current volume setting of the player's headset. The Organizer requires players to keep the volume higher than the official minimum setting.

Players must wear headsets over their ears directly and keep them in the same position throughout the match. Players are in no way allowed to place anything between their headsets and their ears.

14.5.Special Circumstances

Suppose a player is unable to participate in the competition in person due to pandemic prevention and control policies issued by governments or other special circumstances. In that case, they can participate in the competition remotely, with the consent of the Organizer. During the competition, players must use their own touch-screen devices (computers/laptops or emulators are strictly prohibited) and are responsible for maintaining their Internet connection, monitoring equipment, and computer equipment required for the substitution, map selection, and faction selection phases during the competition.

To ensure the orderly operation of the tournament, players must use the software designated by the Organizer for communication. Communication must be carried out under the supervision of the referee.

15.Competition Apparel

Players shall strictly abide by the officially notified tournament dress code. Players shall wear official uniforms approved by the Organizer on official occasions (including interviews before, during, and after the matches). If a player wears an outer garment or any clothing that does not conform to the official dress code during the tournament, the Organizer has the right to investigate the matter and administer any relevant punishments. The Organizer shall have the final say on all club clothing matters.

Coaches shall strictly abide by the officially notified tournament dress code and must wear business casual attire or the standard attire mentioned above during broadcasts.

16.Tournament Procedure

16.1.Before the Competition

16.1.1.Arriving at the Venue/Logging In

Club members on the roster must arrive at the venue within the officially stipulated timeframe, and clubs are obliged to cooperate with the Organizer on promotion events.

Players who participate in the tournament remotely must log in to the game within the officially stipulated timeframe.

16.1.2.Pre-competition Testing

Once players arrive at the venue, the Organizer's staff will make arrangements for the players to enter the competition area and complete a pre-competition test. The test includes but is not limited to device tests, communication equipment tests, and in-game warm-ups.

Remote participants must complete the test 15 minutes before the start of the match and inform the referee when they are ready to compete. The test includes but is not limited to device tests, network tests, communication equipment tests, and in-game warm-ups. If the player's testing time exceeds the specified time allowance, the referee has the right to demand the player conclude the test immediately and prepare to enter the game.

16.1.3.Technical Support　

The Organizer will assist with the testing process and resolve problems encountered by in-person participants during pre-competition testing.

16.1.4.Substitution, Map, and Faction Selection Rules

Players and other clubs staff must complete substitution, map selection, and faction selection according to the referee's instructions within the specified time. This process will be completed on a web page on a computer. Clubs must follow the referee's instructions and complete the selection process in every phase within the specified time.

If a club fails to complete the selection within the specified time, or if players, coaches, or the club itself causes empty bans, empty selections, incorrect picks, or other similar circumstances, the game will proceed normally. The default for each phase is as follows:

If players are unable to conduct the Ban & Pick phase due to special circumstances such as networking and server failure at the venue, the Ban & Pick process will be restarted. The restart must be completed under the instruction of official staff throughout the process, and the Organizer reserves the right to decide whether the Ban & Pick phase should be restarted or not.

16.1.5.Preparation Time

The Organizer will give players up to 2 minutes to prepare and ensure they are fully ready before the match starts. The Organizer will inform participating Clubs and players of the preparation time as part of the full match schedule. Players are prohibited from leaving without the express permission of the referee and a member of the Organizer's staff. Preparations include the following:

1)Confirming the quality of devices provided by the Organizer.
2)Connecting devices and testing.
3)Confirming that the voice chat system functions properly.
4)Configuring Talents and Traits.
5)Adjusting in-game settings.
6)Performing in-game warm-ups.

16.1.6.Game Start Time　

Once players are ready, the match will start according to the scheduled time. If any problem arises during the preparation period, the match may be delayed. Whether the circumstances of the situation are acceptable and whether the start time is delayed shall be decided by the Organizer. When deeming a delay unacceptable, the Organizer reserves the right to punish the player who caused the delay.

16.1.7.Pre-match Testing

There will be a 5-minute preparation period before the start of each match. During this period, an official staff member will confirm with each contestant whether they are ready or not.

16.1.8.Ready Status　

Once all players have confirmed with the Organizer that they are ready to compete, they will enter the ready state. Players need to return to the game's main interface and await the official invitation to join the game room. At this point, players are forbidden from setting up their devices or undertaking any other actions that hinder the competition's progress.

16.1.9.Game Room Creation　

The Organizer will create a formal game room. After the test, players shall follow the instructions and enter the game room immediately.

16.2.Game Proceedings

16.2.1.Ban & Pick Process　

Once all players enter the officially designated game room, the Organizer will confirm whether both clubs are ready. Once it has been confirmed that both clubs are ready, the Organizer will instruct the room owner to start the game.

16.2.2.Recording Ban & Pick

The character Ban & Pick process will be completed through the Custom Mode function on the match server. If Ban & Pick is completed under the official instructions before the preparation stage, the Organizer will record the Ban & Pick, and players shall compete according to the confirmed results of the Ban & Pick.

16.2.3.Incorrect Picks　

During the in-game Ban & Pick phase, if players, coaches, or the club itself causes empty bans, empty selections, or incorrect picks, the game will proceed normally without restarting. This includes but is not limited to:

1)Missing Ban & Pick due to tactics discussion
2)Missing character Ban & Pick due to the overlong discussion
3)Incorrect Ban & Pick due to miscommunication or players' own fault

If players are unable to conduct the Ban & Pick phase due to special circumstances such as networking and server failure at the venue, the Ban & Pick process will be restarted. The restart must be completed under the instruction of official staff throughout the process, and the Organizer reserves the right to decide whether the Ban & Pick phase should be restarted or not.

16.2.4.Starting the Game After Ban & Pick

The game will start immediately after the Ban & Pick phase is completed unless the Organizer states otherwise. After the Ban & Pick phase is completed and before the deduction phase begins, players will not be allowed to quit the game.

16.2.5.Controlled Start

If the game starts in an erroneous state, or the Organizer decides to separate the Ban & Pick phase from the game, the game can be started in Custom Mode, and all players shall select characters according to the effective Ban & Pick prior to this.

16.2.6.Client Functionality Delay

If a game bug, disconnection, or any other technical difficulties interrupt the loading process, causing players to be unable to join the game after the game starts. In that case, the game must be suspended immediately until all the players have connected to the game.

16.2.7.Banned Game Settings

"Escape" and "Just Deserts" are not allowed to be actively used in the course of a match. If players are stuck or unable to operate due to in-game problems, the game can be suspended according to rule 17.

16.3.Post-game Proceedings

16.3.1.Results　

The Organizer must confirm and record the results of the game.

16.3.2.Technical Records　

Any technical issues will be confirmed with the Organizer.

16.3.3.Rest Time　

The Organizer will notify the players of the remaining time until the next match begins. The Ban & Pick phase will begin on time, even if all the members of a competing club aren't in the competition area. The Organizer has the right to log in any player and add them to the game room. If a clubs' members do not arrive at the competition area within the specified time, the Organizer reserves the right to deem the club to have forfeited.

16.3.4.Forfeits　

In each game won by forfeits, the winner will win the game (BO1) according to the widest margin (e.g., Hunters will be deemed to have eliminated 4 players, and Survivors will be deemed to have had 4 escapees). No other data will be recorded for forfeited games.

16.4.Post-match Proceedings

16.4.1.Results　

The Organizer shall confirm and record the match results and get a signed confirmation of the results from the players. Clubs playing in the live event must submit written confirmations through official communication channels.

16.4.2.Next Match　

Players will be informed of their current placing and the scheduled time of the next match.

16.4.3.Post-match Obligations　

Players will be informed of all post-competition obligations, including but not limited to: Participating in media events, interviews, and any in-depth discussions on competition-related matters.

16.4.4.Contended Match Results

If a dispute arises during an ongoing match, the club captain and players must defer to the referee. If a player disagrees with the referee's ruling, they can appeal to the Organizer in accordance with appeal procedures. Players may appeal to the referee on duty within 3 minutes after each game. The referee and the Competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to reject any appeal made outside the time limit.

The Organizer will conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation. During an official investigation, clubs and their players are forbidden from making public comments on the incident under investigation. The club and its players are not allowed to question other clubs or players publicly. Otherwise, penalties might be carried out.

Once the official results of an investigation are announced, the club and its players shall not object to the results and shall not publicly question any official decision.

Send appeals to: COA_Committee@service.netease.com

16.4.5.Forfeits　

In each match won by forfeit, the winner will win the match according to the widest margin (e.g., 1-0 for BO1, 2-0 for BO3, and 3-0 for BO5). No other data will be recorded for forfeited games.

17.Pausing Rules

17.1.Pausing the Game

In each match won by forfeit, the winner will win the match according to the widest margin (e.g., 1-0 for BO1, 2-0 for BO3, and 3-0 for BO5). No other data will be recorded for forfeited games.

17.2.Forced Pausing

The Organizer can pause the game at any time or request players to pause the game at its sole discretion.

17.3.Player Pauses

Every club has 1 chance in every match to pause the game for its players. Clubs explain the reasons for doing so to the Organizer after the pause. Acceptable reasons include but are not limited to:

(1) Network failure.
(2) Hardware or software problems.
(3) Player health issues.

The Organizer will evaluate the reason provided and has the right to allow the pause or continue the match. The pause duration is subject to the referee's decision. If the game isn't resumed within the specified time or the number of allowed pauses is exceeded, the Organizer has the right to punish the player according to the Player Code of Conduct. It includes but is not limited to a warning, revoking the club's right to first pick, judging the game as a loss, etc.

17.4.Other Pauses

During the competition, if a pause is initiated due to force majeure beyond the control of the players, the Organizer has the right to decide (according to the actual situation) if the game should be paused.

17.5.Unpausing

Once all players have been informed and are ready to continue the game, spectators on the match server can resume the game.

18.Rematch Rules

18.1.Rematch Regulations

During the match, if an unexpected situation affects the fairness of the competition or causes the game to stop, the Organizer reserves the right to decide whether the match should be restarted. This includes but is not limited to ruling to restart one or more tournament processes and restarting one or more games. The Organizer will decide according to the actual situation, and all clubs shall comply with the said decision.

18.2.Limits After Restarting

After the restart, the factions, characters, costumes, and maps must remain the same as those selected before.

19.Rules for Sudden Victory & Defeat

If a game is not played to the end for any reason, and the remaining games cannot change the match results, the Organizer has the right to decide the winning club directly.

20.Forfeiture

Suppose a club decides to forfeit any match during the tournament. In that case, the club captain must submit written confirmation to the Competition Organizing Committee on behalf of the club via official communication channels and bear all consequences and responsibilities arising from there. For the consequences of forfeiture, see 16.3.4.

If a club forfeits all of its matches and decides to withdraw from the tournament, the club captain must submit written confirmation to the Competition Organizing Committee on behalf of the club via official communication channels and sign the Quitting Statement. The club must bear all consequences and responsibilities arising from there. Subsequent matches involving the club will be treated as byes. The Organizer will have the right to revoke the club's competition results, including its previous and current placings, qualifications, rewards, among others.

In principle, the clubs are not allowed to withdraw from the tournament. However, if the club insists, the Organizer will assume that the club has waived its rights to participate in Identity V tournaments. The club will no longer be allowed to participate in future Identity V-related tournaments, and the Organizer reserves the right to penalize the club and its members.

21.Referee

21.1.Referee Duties　

The referee is an official member of staff responsible for judging the match-related problems, questions, and situations before, during, and immediately after matches, including, but not limited to:

1)Checking the clubs' lineup before the match.
2)Checking player devices and inspecting the competition area.
3)Announcing the start of games.
4)Initiating pausing/unpausing of games.
5)Punishing those who violate the rules of the game.
6)Confirm the end of each match and match results.

21.2.Referee Behavior

Throughout the tournament, referees are expected to behave professionally and make fair judgments. Referees must not show favoritism or prejudice toward any player, club, owner, or other individuals.

If an emergency arises during the matches, players shall obey the referee's instructions to continue or stop competing.

21.3.Final Rulings

If a club doubts any ruling, it can appeal through methods stated in 16.4.4. The Organizer reserves the right of final decision upon all rulings during the tournament.

22.Global Licensing

The Organizer has the right to take pictures, videos, and audio recordings of the event. Clubs should complete the confirmation of all procedures of the competition, including but not limited to Ban & Pick of the characters and maps, players rotation. The confirmation can be presented verbally or in writing. If a club does not complete the confirmation within the specified time, it is deemed to have authorized and agreed with the Organizer to make the decision on behalf of the club at its sole discretion, and the club should strictly conduct the decision.

6Competition Organizing Committee

23.Competition Organizing Committee Composition

The Competition Organizing Committee is composed of NetEase Games and Identity V project team members.

24.Amendments and Supplements

To ensure the fairness and integrity of the tournament, the Organizer has the right to amend, change, or supplement the Rules at any time, according to the actual situation. For any matters that have not been adequately specified or explained in the Rules, the explanation from the Organizer or the other rules and conducts formulated by the Organizer shall prevail. The Organizer has the right to publish and implement amendments, changes, or supplements to the Rules above, as well as the interpretation and formulation of new rules via mail, online announcements, printed announcements, or any other appropriate method.

Should any conflict arise between the contents of communications with the Organizer and officially published rules, the official rules shall prevail.

25.Force Majeure

In the event of force majeure during the competition (including but not limited to natural disasters, such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods, hail; government actions; abnormal social incidents, etc.) that prevent the match from continuing, the final results of the match will be decided by the Organizer.

26.Livestream Copyrights

The Organizer owns all documents, images, and audio-visual materials related to the tournament. Unauthorized use by any group or individual is strictly prohibited, and violators will be prosecuted.

27.Final Decision

The Organizer reserves the final right of interpretation for all of the terms and conditions in the Rules as well as the punishment adjudication for misconduct. I have carefully read and fully understood all of the terms and conditions above under the Tournament Rules, and hereby agree and promise to strictly abide by such terms and conditions. In the case of any violation, the Organizer has the right to punish and investigate the relevant liability according to the Tournament Rules.