Auction Process: Claim Your Category
The IFES EWC 2025 introduces a thrilling online auction system, where you bid to secure exclusive rights to one of the 20 categories. This innovative process ensures only the most committed publishers lead each genre. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Registration
- Deadline: April 2nd, 2025
- Fee: $10,000 (payable via IFES’s secure online portal)
- Submission: Register online with:
- Your game title
- Company details
- Your top 3 preferred categories
- Benefit: The $10,000 fee is credited toward your final bid if you win a category.
Step 2: Pre-Auction Preparation
- Event: “World Auction Kickoff” livestream on March 25, 2025—a briefing to equip you with insights and strategies.
- Resources: Receive a “Category Playbook” detailing audience demographics, regional participation trends, and prize pool specifics.
- Alliances: Optional—collaborate with another publisher to pool funds and bid as a team, sharing the category if successful.
Step 3: The Auction
- Date: April 21-22, 2025 (virtual, livestreamed from IFES Headquarters)
- Format:
- Starting Bid: $10,000 per category
- Minimum Increment: $2,000 per raise
- Blind Boost: A single sealed bid (up to 50% above the current highest bid), submitted privately and revealed at the end.
How the Blind Boost Works
- Open Bidding: Publishers bid publicly (e.g., FPS category reaches $200,000).
- Blind Boost Submission: Before bidding closes, submit a secret bid (e.g., $300,000—50% above $200,000). It’s hidden from competitors.
- Reveal: After open bidding ends, IFES unveils all Blind Boosts. The highest wins if it exceeds the final open bid.
- Strategy: You get one Blind Boost per category—choose wisely!
- Rules:
- Bid on multiple categories, but win only one (highest bid takes priority).
- Auction proceeds fund prize pools and global qualifiers.
Step 4: Winning & Commitment
- Announcement: April 5, 2025—winners revealed in a global broadcast.
- Payment: Full bid due within 7 days (by April 12, 2025) to secure your category.
- Rewards: Exclusive tournament rights, a tailored prize pool, and full IFES support.
