Legal documents

Gaijin Tournament Rules

These Gaijin Tournament Rules ("Rules") establish the general rules of tournaments and other competitive activities in the Games (collectively - "Tournament"), including on eligibility of Participants (as defined below), Tournaments structure, prize awards, and rules of conduct. These Rules also contain limitations of liability and other legally binding contractual terms that affect the Participant’s rights and obligations.

Specific Tournaments may have additional rules. Such additional rules will be communicated to Participants before the specific Tournament, and Participants must accept such rules before entering the relevant Tournament. Unless expressly stated otherwise, these Rules prevail if there is a conflict between such additional Tournament rules and these Rules. More details on the additional Tournament rules are provided in paragraph 5.1 below.

All the provisions of these Rules apply in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions, including the Terms of Service, and are unconditionally binding for each and every Participant. By entering any Tournament, the Participant agrees to abide by the Rules and the rules of the specific Tournament.

The capitalized terms (words) not defined herein shall be interpreted as provided in EULA and Terms of Service.

EACH PARTICIPANT IS REQUIRED TO READ, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE TO THESE RULES AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TOURNAMENT RULES BEFORE A TOURNAMENT AND, AS A CONDITION, AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TOURNAMENT. THESE RULES FORM A CONTRACT BETWEEN A PARTICIPANT AND THE ORGANIZER.

1. DEFINITIONS

"Event Rules" refers to terms, rules, messages, or any other information published by the Organizer regarding a relevant Tournament, including the offer to participate in the Tournament, which should be considered an integral part of these Rules. For the avoidance of doubt, the Event Rules apply to only one specific Tournament and not to others.

"Game" refers to any video game published and/or licensed by Gaijin under EULA to Users, including, but not limited to, War Thunder, Crossout, Star Conflict, CRSED: Cuisine Royale, Enlisted, Age of Water, and others so connected.

"Lobby" refers to Game functionality allowing Participants to connect to a Match.

"Match" refers to one or several Tournament plays (battles) in a Game between two Teams.

"Organizer" refers to the principal operator of the Tournament responsible for the preparation and holding of the Tournament. Please note that the Organizer of the Tournaments conducted via War Thunder Tournament Service is Gaijin Network Ltd, a Cypriot company registered at Ifigeneias street 63, Office 302, 2003 Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus ("Gaijin"). 

"Participant" refers to a Player(-s) and/or a Team(-s) participating or willing to participate in a Tournament. 

"Platform" refers to the website, software, or other technology owned or controlled by the Organizer that is designed and used to arrange, conduct, and record the Tournaments and Matches. The term includes any mobile or computer application, website, and emerging or new technology deployed to advance the conduct and operation of the Tournaments and Matches (including but not limited to the War Thunder Tournament Service available at https://tss.warthunder.com).

"Player" refers to an individual participating or willing to participate in a Tournament as a Team member, subject to compliance with these Rules. 

"Prize" refers to an award for the Winner(-s) of a Tournament established by the applicable Event Rules.

"Sponsor" refers to a sponsor of a Tournament participating in its organization within limits set by these Rules.

"Team Captain" refers to a Team member who represents the Team's interests to the Organizer and is responsible for communications with the Organizer on behalf of the Players in such a Team. A Team Captain must also be a Player and a corresponding Team member.

"Team" refers to an organized group consisting of several Players participating or intending to participate in the Tournament subject to compliance with these Rules. The Organizer determines the maximum and minimum numbers of Players in a Team for each Tournament.

"Tournament" refers to any competitive event organized and/or conducted by the Organizer via a Platform and where Players compete in Teams against other Teams in Matches.

"Winner" refers to a Participant entitled to receive a Prize(-s) subject to the Event Rules.

2. TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION

2.1. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to participate in a Tournament, a Player must meet the criteria set out below:

  1. a Player must be at least 16 years old (or any such other age, if greater or lower, as may be required in the Player’s country of residence, to be legally bound by these Rules to the full extent);
  2. a Player must have a valid Gaijin Account;
  3. a Player must not play for more than one Team at a time;
  4. a Player must not be a director, officer, or employee of the Organizer, a relative of an Organizer’s employee, or any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Organizer unless the Organizer has been notified of and has expressly authorized such relationship in writing;
  5. a Player must comply with other eligibility requirements provided for by Event Rules, including but not limited to ranking and/or regional requirements, availability of the specific in-game items and valuables on the Gaijin Account of the Player (for example, certain in-game vehicles or weapons).

2.2. TEAM ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to participate in a Tournament, a Team must meet the criteria set forth below:

  1. a Team must consist of at least the minimum number of Players necessary to participate in a Tournament, and: (i) all members of such a Team shall comply with the Player eligibility requirements prescribed by these Rules and Event Rules; (ii) a Team shall have one Player being designated as the Team Captain;
  2. a Team must have a name that does not violate the provisions of these Rules and the Gaijin Community Guidelines;
  3. a Team must be duly registered on the corresponding Platform in accordance with the Event Rules' eligibility requirements (if any).

2.3. Participants may participate in a Tournament as long as their participation does not violate applicable laws and/or infringe, violate, or misappropriate the rights of any third party. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring that their participation in the Tournament is compliant with the applicable laws and must take all necessary steps to ensure compliance. 

2.4. The Organizer shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to determine the eligibility of any Participants according to these Rules and the Event Rules. Participants acknowledge and agree that their eligibility status may change if the Participant no more complies with the preceding rules.

2.5. The Organizer may exclude any Participant from a Tournament for any reason at any time.

3. GENERAL RULES

3.1. ACCEPTANCE. Each Participant must agree to these Rules to participate in a Tournament. Participants may accept these Rules using any one of the following methods: 

  1. by registering a Gaijin Account; 
  2. by creating or joining a Team; 
  3. by accepting a Match invite.

3.2. TEAM REGISTRATION. Each Player may participate in a Tournament only as a Team member created on a Platform by the Team Captain. The Player may join a Team:

  1. IF A TEAM IS FORMED AS PUBLIC ON A PLATFORM, a Player may join the Team through their actions, i.e., by entering the corresponding Team on the Platform;
  2. IF A TEAM IS FORMED AS PRIVATE ON A PLATFORM, a Player may join the Team only after a direct invitation from the Team Captain.

The name of a Team shall comply with Gaijin Community Guidelines. In particular, a Team name must not contain information of an obscene, extremist, or erotic nature, offend other Participants, or infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties. In case of violation of this rule, the Organizer will remove the Team from a Tournament.

3.3. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE. The details regarding a Tournament schedule are provided in Event Rules and shall be published on a Platform. In particular, the Event Rules usually contain the following information:

  1. start time and corresponding countdown timer before the start of a Tournament;
  2. information about previous and upcoming Matches;
  3. full Tournament schedule.

The Organizer may change the schedule of the Tournament, including but not limited to changes in the time and dates of upcoming Matches.

3.4. BUGS AND TECHNICAL ERRORS. At the sole discretion of the Organizer, a Match and/or a Tournament may be suspended or canceled due to a critical bug, such as an error, flaw, or failure that produces incorrect, unexpected, or unintended results during the gameplay, and thus critically or significantly change the outcome of Matches and severely hinders the participation in the Tournament. In that case, the Organizer may either:

  1. restart the Match and/or the Tournament with the same Teams and Players before the critical bug occurs;
  2. select Winners of the Tournament based on the Participants’ results in the Tournament before the critical bug occurs;
  3. award all or some Participants in the Tournament a compensation prize (for example, in-game items, valuables, or boosts). 

The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to minor bugs, such as errors, flaws, or failures that do not significantly change the outcome of a Tournament and/or Matches. At its sole discretion, the Organizer determines whether a bug and/or error is a critical or minor bug. 

Where a critical bug affects only one Participant or several Participants, the Organizer may, at its sole discretion, award a compensation prize to such Participant(-s) without canceling the Tournament. In that case, the Participant shall submit the actual log file of the Game to the Organizer. 

3.5. PARTICIPATION IN TOURNAMENT MATCHES. To participate in a Match, the Player shall enter the Lobby that is automatically created for the corresponding Match. Players are then invited to join the Lobby one minute before the Match's scheduled start. After entering the Lobby, a Player shall confirm readiness to start the Match by pressing the "Ready" button.

A Match starts automatically when all the Players in both competing Teams are in the Lobby and have pressed the "Ready" button. If Players have not entered the Lobby or have not pressed the "Ready" button, the Match starts automatically at the scheduled time, taking into account the following:

  1. if one or several Players in the Team fail to enter the Lobby or to press the "Ready" button, the Match starts without such Players. If all Players in the competing Team fail to enter the Lobby or to press the "Ready" button, the Team will be automatically deemed defeated in the corresponding Match;
  2. the Team may be disqualified from further participation in the Tournament if all Players of the Team fail to enter the Lobby or to press the "Ready" button regarding the following Match(es): (i) any of the Match at the play-off stage; (ii) all Matches at the group stage.

ATTENTION! If one of the competing Teams has not entered the Lobby, the other Team in the Lobby shall not disconnect from a Match and shall wait for the server announcement of the technical victory. In this situation, the Team that is present shall not leave the Lobby that closes automatically after the Match results are recorded. If the Team leaves the Lobby before the above automatic closure, it will also be disqualified.

The Organizer may ban the Participant from participating in any future Tournaments if the Participant forfeits a Match for whatever reason.

3.6. DISCONNECTIONS. If a Player disconnects after the start of the Match, the Match will be continued in any case. The disconnected Player may reconnect to the Match before the Match is completed. Unless otherwise specified in these Rules and/or the Event Rules, no restarts of Matches are allowed.

3.7. ALLOWED VEHICLES. During the Match, Players may only use the vehicles, weaponry, and/or other in-game items (collectively – "Game Elements") provided in the Event Rules. In common, to participate in a Match, a Player must have eligible Game Elements on their Gaijin Account and assign them to the corresponding slot. 

3.8. ALLOWED FACTIONS. If prescribed by Event Rules, Players must choose the specific faction (for example, a nation) in a Game before the beginning of the Match. During the Match, Players shall not change the initially chosen faction. 

3.9. SPECTATING AND STREAMING. In common, only Participants of the Match are admitted to the Lobby during the corresponding Match. At its sole discretion, the Organizer may authorize any person (whether Player or not) to broadcast (stream) the whole Tournament or the specific Match(-es).

Unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Organizer, Players and/or other persons are not permitted to broadcast (stream) the Matches publicly or privately on any platform or service.

3.10. PUNISHMENT. Any Participant found to have engaged in or attempted to engage in any act that the Organizer believes, at its sole and absolute discretion, constitutes a violation of these Rules, Event Rules, or any other unfair play, will be subject to penalty (including but not limited to, the removal and/or permanent ban from the participation in Tournaments). The nature and extent of the penalties imposed due to such acts shall be at the sole and absolute discretion of the Organizer. 

IMPORTANT! The Organizer may establish specific rules regarding the forbidden acts and the punishments within the Tournaments of a particular Game. However, these limitations may not contradict these Rules and shall be published (for example, on Gaijin's official website and/or forum regarding the tournament rules in War Thunder videogame). 

3.11. PRIZE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. To be eligible to win a Prize, Participants must meet the additional prize eligibility requirements set forth in paragraph 6.4 hereof.

3.12. NON-STANDARD SITUATIONS. In a non-standard case, or a situation not described in the current version of the Rules, the Organizer has the right to resolve the problem at their discretion. In addition, the Organizer may reasonably amend the Rules and Event Rules during the Tournament at any time if the amendment is necessary to follow the spirit of these Rules, the Event Rules, and/or the Tournament.

3.13. APPLICABILITY. These Rules shall apply to any Tournaments conducted and/or organized by Gaijin unless otherwise specified in the Event Rules. If the Tournament is held by the Organizer other than Gaijin, these Rules may be applied by reference. 

4. CODE OF CONDUCT

4.1. Participants must observe the highest standards of personal integrity and good sportsmanship. Participants are required to behave in a professional and sportsmanlike manner in their interactions with other Participants and the Organizer. 

4.2. While participating in the Tournament, Participants shall follow the rules prescribed by the Gaijin Game Rules and Gaijin Community Guidelines. In particular, the following actions are strictly prohibited: 

  1. use of foul and abusive language; 
  2. violation of Gaijin Game Rules, Gaijin Community Guidelines, and EULA;
  3. disrespectful, unsportsmanlike behavior (including but not limited to the public abuse of other Participants of the Tournament, Sponsors, or Organizer’s representatives);
  4. cheating or behavior impacting game integrity (including but not limited to conspiracy, match-fixing, or any other action to intentionally change, or attempt to change, the results of any Match and/or the Tournament);
  5. allowing an individual who is not a registered owner of the Gaijin Account to play on that Gaijin Account in a Match and/or in a Match while logged in to a Gaijin Account registered to someone else.

4.3. Participants are expected to settle their differences respectfully and without resorting to violence, threats, or intimidation (physical or non-physical). Violence is never permitted at any time or place or against any person. 

4.4. The obligation to behave in a professional and sportsmanlike manner includes a commitment on behalf of Participants to enter the Lobby on time and be ready to compete in all Matches according to the Tournament schedule. It is also prohibited to forfeit a Match without reasonable cause.

4.5. Upon becoming aware of any conduct prohibited by this Section 4, Participants must immediately report the details to the Organizer. Failure to comply with this requirement is an independent violation of these Rules.

5. SPECIFIC TOURNAMENT DETAILS

5.1. Event Rules. Full details regarding the Tournament are set out in the relevant Event Rules communicated to Participants via a Platform. In particular, the Event Rules may establish the rules regarding the following: 

  1. name of the Tournament; 
  2. starting and ending date of the Tournament; 
  3. Tournament format;
  4. procedure for determining the winner of the Match and the Tournament; 
  5. requirements for the number of Players in competing Teams;
  6. number of Teams participating in the Tournament; 
  7. map selection procedure; 
  8. number of Winners;
  9. eligible regions to participate in the Tournament; 
  10. prize pool and the details on Prize delivery;
  11. Match settings (i.e., game mode, server, allowed and restricted vehicle and weaponry, etc.);
  12. any other details regarding the Tournament and Matches. 

5.2. SPONSOR'S INVOLVEMENT. Some Tournaments may be held in cooperation with Sponsors. In such a case, the Organizer may set out the specific Tournament details (including those described in paragraph 5.1 above) in the Event Rules according to the Sponsor’s suggestions and requests, for example, determine the Tournament format, list of in-game vehicles allowed in the Tournament, set out certain eligibility criteria for Participants, etc.).

The Organizer remains the principal organizer and operator of the Tournament. Unless otherwise specified in these Rules and/or the Event Rules, the Sponsor is not involved in organizing and holding the Tournament. In particular, the Sponsor is not engaged in refereeing the Tournament, winner determination, Prize distribution, or interaction with Participants on behalf of the Organizer. 

6. PRIZING

6.1. Certain Tournaments may award Prizes to Participants. Detailed information regarding the Prizes is included in Event Rules that are provided to Participants before the start of each Tournament.

6.2. The existence, value, award, recipients, and any other aspects related to any Tournament Prizes are at the Organizer's sole discretion. Such decisions by the Organizer are final and binding for all the Participants and may not be disputed.

6.3. The Prize fund consists of the Main Prizes and the Additional Prizes (as defined below) that shall be distributed among the Winners according to the Event Rules.

6.3.1. The number and kind of virtual Prizes, including Prizes in the form of in-game items, valuables, and other in-game features ("Main Prizes"), are determined by the Organizer in the Event Rules. Sponsors may contribute to such a prize fund by providing the Main Prizes to the Organizer. Main Prizes are automatically distributed among the Winners via the Platform according to the procedure. These Event Rules also set forth the Winner selection criteria.

6.3.2. Sponsors, at their sole discretion, may award Prizes in addition to the Main Prizes awarded by the Organizer ("Additional Prizes"), including but not limited to cash prizes. Additional Prizes are delivered at the Sponsor's expense, and the Sponsor is deemed solely responsible for delivering such Prizes to Winners. Unless otherwise explicitly in the Event Rules, the Winner of the Tournament shall further contact the Sponsor via e-mail or otherwise as specified by the Sponsor to agree on the time and place of taking the Prize within 20 calendar days from the date when the Participant was nominated as a Winner of the corresponding Tournament.

EACH PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE ADDITIONAL PRIZES ARE AWARDED SOLELY BY THE SPONSOR AND HEREBY RELEASES AND HOLDS THE ORGANIZER EXEMPT FROM ALL COSTS, INJURIES, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND IN CONNECTION WITH THE PARTICIPANT'S RECEIPT, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY ADDITIONAL PRIZE. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE ORGANIZER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE, RESPONSIBLE, OR ACCOUNTABLE FOR DAMAGES OR OTHERWISE TO THE WINNERS OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTIES FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF A SPONSOR CONCERNING THE DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL PRIZES WHICH MAY NOT BE CLAIMED FROM THE ORGANIZER IN ANY CASE.

6.4. The Winner, at their own expense, shall pay all taxes, fees, duties, and charges prescribed by the applicable laws and resolve all other issues related to the Prize.

6.5. Replacing a Main Prize with monetary compensation is neither provided by these Rules, nor a Sponsor shall do this. If the Winner loses any Prize, the Prize cannot be restored.

6.6. In the event the Winner refuses to accept a Prize and/or fails to use the right to receive it in the manner established by the Organizer and/or a Sponsor, the Organizer and/or a Sponsor shall be entitled to dispose of such a Prize in their sole discretion.

6.7. If a Participant eligible for the Prize violates the provisions of these Rules or other rules regulating the participation in a Tournament, including those related to receiving a Prize, such Participant loses the right to receive the Prize. In such a case, the Organizer and/or Sponsor has the right either to: 

  1. redistribute the Prize among other Winners; 
  2. assign this right to the Participant(-s) not previously eligible for the Prize but having achieved the most outstanding results in the Tournament; 
  3. withhold the Prize.

6.8. In the event a Team is eligible to receive a Prize, the Prize should be owned by the Players in such a Team in equal shares or, if possible, equally distributed among them. Each Player cannot transfer the right to receive the Prize to their Team member. Neither Player has the right to claim the Prize on behalf of their teammate, including when the Prize is unclaimed by that teammate.

7. FORCE MAJEURE 

In case of circumstances beyond the control of the Organizer, unplanned events or other exceptional situations (including, without limitation, fire, flood, natural disaster, attacks on web servers, or industrial strikes) that jeopardize the financial or technical viability of a Tournament, even if the Organizer is responsible for such circumstances (subject to the fulfillment of the Organizer’s obligations in good faith), the Organizer reserve the right to entirely cancel such Tournament or the part thereof. If the Tournament is canceled, the Participants may not seek compensation of any form (including damages).

8. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND GENERAL RELEASE 

8.1. As a condition to being allowed to participate in a Tournament and to the greatest extent permitted by the applicable laws and regulations, each Participant, on its own behalf and on behalf of Participant’s heirs, spouses, guardians, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, and relatives, hereby releases, acquits, forever discharges, and holds harmless the Organizer, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, sponsors, as well as Sponsor and each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees and other representatives (“Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, charges, suits, actions, cause of actions, proceedings, investigations, disputes, or demands, of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, in law or in equity, whether arising by statute or common law or otherwise, both direct and indirect, which any Participant has had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have against the Released Parties, in each case arising out of, relating to, or in connection with such Participant’s participation in the Tournament, the delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any prize, any costs, injuries, illness, losses, and damages (including related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property), rights of publicity or privacy, defamation and portrayal in a false light (collectively, the “Released Claims”). In no event shall any Participant have, and Participant hereby irrevocably waives, any right to sue and covenants not to sue, based upon or assert or support any Released Claim against the Released Parties.

8.2. IN NO EVENT WILL THE ORGANIZER OR ANY OF ITS PARENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE UNDER THESE RULES TO ANY PARTICIPANT OR ANY PERSON OR ENTITY CLAIMING RIGHTS DERIVED FROM ANY PARTICIPANT, FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, AND/OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF DATA, REVENUE, PRIZES OR PROFIT, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ORGANIZER OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES WERE ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 

9. MISCELLANEOUS

In all other aspects regarding the Tournaments that are not specified by these Rules, including but not limited to governing law and jurisdiction, warranty disclaimer, indemnification, Rules update and modification, severability, assignment, and termination, the relevant provisions of Terms of Service shall apply to these Rules.

10. CONTACT INFORMATION

To contact Gaijin, please use our Support Service website currently available at https://support.gaijin.net.

Last updated: 18.04.2023