CrossFire
16 documents in the library are about CrossFire, from writers such as The Esports Advocate, Remedy Entertainment and GameRefinery, the newest from 2025. Each has a summary and key insights with the page they come from.
CrossFire is a first-person shooter that features two mercenary corporations named the "Black List" and "Global Risk," fighting each other in an epic global conflict. Players assume the role of either a Black List or Global Risk mercenary, joining an online team that must work together to complete objective-based scenarios. With the exception of the Zombie mode and Wave mode, each mode can support a maximum of 16 players (except Wave mode), each divided into an 8-man team (5 for Wave mode). There are more than ten online modes: Team Death Match, Search and Destroy, Elimination Match, Ghost Mode, Free-For-All, Mutation Mode, Escape Mode, Hero Mode, Hero Mode X, Zombie mode, Elite mode, Wave Mode, Shadow Mode, Biochemical Knight Mode, Ghosts vs Mutants, RPG/Melee Mode, Soccer Mode, Light Mode, and Super Soldiers TD. Based on their performance in-game, players will receive experience points and be promoted through various Military Ranks. The lowest rank is trainee first class, the highest is Marshall. Players also have the ability to customize their character's equipment and appearance through CrossFire's in-game item shop and from the Mall in the website. CrossFire is free to download and playable online. It has a free currency which is called Game Points (GP), which are earned through playing and completing matches, buying premium items that grant bonus GP, or fulfilling certain missions. Premium and special items like modified weapons can only be bought using points which are obtained using real money in the form of cards or online transactions. The content and the name of the points tends to vary from version to version.
- Released
- May 3, 2007
- Developer
- Smilegate
- Publisher
- Neowiz
- Genres
- Shooter, Tactical
- Platforms
- PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Links
- Wikipedia
Game data from IGDB.com
Key figures
The 2025 CrossFire Stars (CFS) tournament recently concluded in Chengdu with a $1.43 million USD prize pool, featuring 16 international teams and global sponsors including Morphlng, ANTGAMER, and GIGABYTE.
The Esports Advocate, 2025 · Smilegate Consolidating Under Smilegate Holdings
Tencent dominated the China App Store in early 2024, with 'Honor of Kings' revenue growing 16% and 'CrossFire' revenue nearly tripling to reach the #4 spot on the top-grossing chart.
Sensor Tower, 2024 · APAC Mobile Game Market Insights 2024
Chengdu has established itself as an esports hub by recently hosting major events including the CrossFire Stars championship, the Naraka Bladepoint World Championship, and the $9.63M Honor of Kings World Championship.
The Esports Advocate, 2024 · Chengdu to Host 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
CrossFire has surpassed 1 billion registered players, with a demographic profile that is 95% male.
The Esports Advocate, 2023 · Tencent Reveals CrossFire 2023 Esports Plans
Documents about CrossFire
Smilegate Consolidating Under Smilegate Holdings
South Korean game publisher Smilegate is restructuring its corporate operations by consolidating three key entities—Smilegate Holdings, Smilegate Entertainment, and Smilegate RPG—into a single integrated corporation.
- Effective January 1, 2026, Smilegate will merge its three key entities—Smilegate Holdings, Smilegate Entertainment, and Smilegate RPG—into a single integrated corporation named Smilegate Holdings, Inc.
- Seong Junho, the current CEO of Smilegate, will lead the new integrated corporation to unify business strategy and operational resources.
- All data related to the CrossFire esports ecosystem, including professional player information, gaming data, and prize money payment details, will be transferred from Smilegate Entertainment to the new consolidated entity.
Hero Esports’ Asian Champions League to Feature $2M Total Prize Pool
Hero Esports, formerly known as VSPO, has announced that its upcoming Asian Champions League (ACL) will feature a total prize pool of 15 million RMB, equivalent to approximately $2.04 million USD.
- Hero Esports will host its multi-title Asian Champions League (ACL) at DreamHack Shanghai in May 2025, marking the first time the DreamHack event has been held in China.
- The ACL tournament features a total prize pool of $2.04 million USD (￥15M RMB).
- The competition will include six titles: Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Teamfight Tactics, CrossFire, Honor of Kings, and the Tencent-developed shooter Delta Force.
APAC Mobile Game Market Insights 2024
The 2024 mobile game market analysis for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region highlights a modest industry revival during the first four months of the year, characterized by shifting genre preferences and the emergence of breakout titles.
- The idle RPG 'Legend of Mushroom' has generated $270 million in global IAP revenue as of April 2024, with South Korea and Japan accounting for 39.4% and 30% of that total, respectively.
- In South Korea, 'Legend of Mushroom' outperformed established MMORPGs like 'Lineage M' and 'ODIN: Valhalla Rising' to secure the top spot on both revenue and download charts.
- Strategy game revenue in South Korea surged 40% quarter-over-quarter in early 2024, driven largely by 'Last War: Survival Game,' which saw its local revenue increase nearly thirteenfold.
Tencent Cancels In-Person Annual Global Esports Summit 2024
Tencent Holdings has officially canceled its in-person Global Esports Summit for 2024, marking a significant departure from the event's seven-year history.
- Tencent has canceled its annual in-person Global Esports Summit for 2024, ending a seven-year tradition of physical events.
- The company replaced the in-person summit with an online live conference titled "Empower Esports Worldwide," which took place on Monday, June 24, 2024.
- Mars Hou, vice president of Tencent Games and general manager of Tencent Esports, stated that the shift reflects a new industry trend and a search for more efficient communication methods.
JingDong Gaming Acquires Vici Gaming King Pro League Franchise
Beijing-based esports organization JingDong Gaming (JDG) has expanded its competitive portfolio by acquiring the King Pro League (KPL) franchise slot previously held by Xiamen-based Vici Gaming (VG).
- JingDong Gaming (JDG) has acquired a franchise slot in the King Pro League (KPL), the top-tier competition for Honor of Kings.
- The acquisition marks the exit of Xiamen-based Vici Gaming from the Chinese esports scene, concluding the organization's 12-year history.
- JDG also acquired the contract of professional player Yang “Wuwei” Tao from Nanjing Hero, a move highlighted by his status as the top-ranked player in terms of commercial value within the KPL.
Tencent Q1 2024 Financial Results: Domestic Revenue Slowdown and Reorganization
Tencent’s financial results for the first quarter of 2024 reveal a strategic shift toward internal reorganization to combat slowing domestic gaming revenues.
- Tencent reported Q1 2024 total revenue of 159.2 billion yuan, a 6% year-over-year increase, despite a 2% decline in domestic gaming revenue.
- The domestic gaming downturn was driven by reduced performance in flagship titles Honor of Kings and Peacekeeper Elite, though both showed signs of recovery by quarter-end.
- Tencent is shifting its domestic strategy to prioritize long-term engagement over download metrics, treating competitive multiplayer titles as evergreen assets.
Chengdu to Host Intel Extreme Masters in 2024
The ESL FACEIT Group has announced that the 2024 Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament will take place in Chengdu, China, from April 8–14.
- ESL FACEIT Group will host the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) 2024 in Chengdu, China, from April 8-14.
- The Counter-Strike 2 tournament features a $250,000 USD prize pool and 16 international teams, with the winner qualifying for IEM Cologne 2024.
- The event will take place at the 12,000-seat Financial City Art Centre, marking ESL's first arena tournament in China in over four years.
Chengdu to Host 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
The 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, from May 1 to May 19, 2024.
- Riot Games will host the 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) in Chengdu, China, from May 1–19, marking the city's first time hosting a major League of Legends global event.
- The winner of the 2024 MSI will receive a direct invitation to the 2024 League of Legends World Championship, which is scheduled for September 25 to November 2 in Berlin, Paris, and London.
- The Chengdu Gaoxin District government plans to invest ￥240M RMB ($33.5M USD) over the next three years to develop the local esports industry.
CrossFire Stars Grand Finals 2023: Chengdu
The CrossFire Stars (CFS) Grand Finals 2023, held in Chengdu, China, served as a focal point for the global expansion and professionalization of the long-running CrossFire esports ecosystem.
- The CrossFire Stars (CFS) 2023 Grand Finals in Chengdu, China, awarded $1.42 million in total prize money, with the winning team, BaiSha Gaming, receiving $500,000.
- Smilegate directly manages the CrossFire esports ecosystem in Brazil, Vietnam, and the Western region, while Tencent operates the franchised CrossFire Pro League (CFPL) in China.
- To maintain a competitive global ecosystem, Smilegate utilizes a 'Player Support Program' that provides direct salary-like payments to international professional players.
Chengdu-Based All Gamers Secures $1.37M in a Series B+ Financing Round
The Chengdu-based esports organization All Gamers (AG) has successfully secured over ¥10 million RMB, approximately $1.37 million USD, in a Series B+ financing round.
- Chengdu-based esports organization All Gamers (AG) raised over $1.37 million (¥10M RMB) in a Series B+ financing round.
- The funding round was led by Orinno Capital, a state-owned investment firm backed by the Chengdu Gaoxin District Holdings.
- All Gamers intends to use the capital to accelerate its IPO process, with a target completion date between 2025 and 2026.
Tencent Reveals CrossFire 2023 Esports Plans
Tencent recently unveiled its strategic roadmap for the 2023 CrossFire esports ecosystem, emphasizing regional integration and continued commercial growth within the Chinese market.
- The CrossFire Pro League (CFPL) has entered a 10-year partnership with Chengdu’s Gaoxin District, relocating all 10 franchised esports teams to the city.
- The CrossFire Stars (CFS) 2023 world championship will be hosted at the Chengdu Gaoxin Gymnasium in December.
- CrossFire has surpassed 1 billion registered players, with a demographic profile that is 95% male.
Why Game Stories Matter
Effective storytelling serves as a critical driver for player retention and monetization in the mobile gaming industry.
- Strong emotional investment through storytelling reduces player price sensitivity, making users more likely to spend money on in-game purchases.
- Effective narrative design acts as a retention tool, keeping players engaged over the long term by creating a sense of 'falling in love' with the game world.
- Genshin Impact demonstrates that integrating storytelling into live operations—such as voice-acted questlines and unique narratives for seasonal events—is a highly effective engagement strategy.