The Xeno Championship features up to 32 contestants, competing across two stanges for the title of Xeno Champion. The tournament is designed to reward consistent performance across multiple rounds, culminating in a high-stakes elimination Finals.

Qualification Stage (Swiss Format)

All registered contestants begin in the Qualification stage, which follows a Swiss-style format over the course of 5 rounds.

• In each round, players are paired against opponents with similar records
• Contestants accumulate wins and losses across all rounds
• At the conclusion of Round 5, players are ranked based on their overall performance

The top 8 ranked contestants advance to the Finals stage.

In the event of tied records, final Qualification standings are determined using Opponent Match Win Percentage (OMW%), as outlined in the Scoring System section.

Finals Stage (Single Elimination)

The top 8 contestants from the Qualification stage progress to the Finals, which follow a single-elimination knockout format.

• Quarter-finals determine the four semi-finalists
• Semi-finals determine the finalists and third-place contenders
• A Third Place Match is played to determine the Bronze Medalist
• The Grand Final determines the Xeno Champion and Silver Medalist

Final Standings

The tournament concludes with the following placements:

• 1st Place - Xeno Champion
• 2nd Place - Silver Medalist
• 3rd Place - Bronze Medalist

Each fixture in the Xeno Championship is played as a 1v1, best-of-three series within the Xeno Arena.

• The first contestant to achieve two (2) Xeno Arena victories is awarded the fixture win
• Each individual Xeno Arena battle counts as one game within the best-of-three series

Streaming Requirements

To support event coverage and broadcasting, each fixture must be captured through one of the following methods:

• At least one contestant must stream the fixture live on Twitch, or
• The fixture must be recorded in full and made available upon request

Live streaming is strongly encouraged, and required in the case of Finals fixtures.

Umpire Oversight

Each fixture is assigned a tournament Umprire, whose role it is to oversee and validate the match.

The Umpire is responsible for:

• Assisting and recording fixture scheduling via Discord
• Ensuring both contestants are present and ready to begin
• Facilitating player connection using NMS Friend Codes
• Observing the entire fixture for legitimacy
• Confirming and recording the final result

Match Coordination

To ensure fixtures run smoothly:

• Umpires will use No Man's Sky Friend Codes to invite both contestants to the same group
• Fixtures are to take place within a shared session in the Space Anomaly to ensure consistency
• Contestants must follow all instructions provided by the Umpire, with respect to initiating and completing the fixture

Result Reporting

Upon completion of a fixture:

• The result must be confirmed by the Umpire
• Results are then recorded and reflected in the tournament standings

In the event of a dispute or uncertainty, the Umpire's report will be used as the primary reference, supported by any available stream or recorded footage.

During the Qualification stage, contestants are ranked based on their performance across all fixtures. Rankings are used to determine both advancement to the Finals and seeding for the knockout stage.

Match Results

Each fixture contributes to a contestant's overall record as follows:

• Win - Match Win
• Loss - Match Loss
• No Show - Recorded as a Match Loss for the absent contestant

A No Show is defined as a contestant failing to be present and ready to begin their fixture within 15 minutesof the agreed start time.

Standings & Rankings

At the conclusion of the Qualification stage:

• Contestants are ranked primarily by total Match Wins
• The top 8 ranked contestants advance to the Finals

Tiebreakers

In the event that two or more contestants have the same number of Match Wins, ties are resolved using the following tiebreaker:

• Opponent Match Win Percentage (OMW%)

OMW% represents the average Match Win percentage of a contestant's opponents, and is used to reflect the relative strength of their schedule throughout the Qualification stage.

Finals Seeding

Final standings from the Qualification stage are used to determine seeding for the Finals bracket.

• Higher-seeded contestants are matched against lower-seeded contestants in the Quarter-finals
• Seeding is based on Match Wins, with OMW% used as a tiebreaker where required

The Xeno Championship takes place throughout the month of August and is divided into two scheduling formats: a flexible, player coordinated Qualification stage, followed by a fixed scheduling for the Finals.

Qualification Stage Scheduling

As the Qualification stage is played over 5 rounds, each round takes place within a 4-day match window.

Prior to the start of each round, fixtures will be generated and shared with contestants. Players are then required to coordinate with their assigned opponent to agree on a specific date and time for their match within the allotted window.

• For Round 1, all foxtures must be scheduled before the tournament begins. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of a contestant's place in the tournament.
• For subsequent rounds, a 2-day scheduling period is provided between rounds to allow players to arrange their next fixture.

While an assigned Umpire will assist in facilitating scheduling via Discord, the responsibility ultimately lies with both contestants to communicate promptly and confirm a suitable date and time within the given timeframe.

Failure to schedule or complete a fixture within the allotted window may result in a forfeit, and recorded as a Fixture No Show.

Finals Scheduling

The Finals stage follows a fixed schedule and takes place across two days:

• 30th August - Quarter-finals (Top 8)
• 31st August - Semi-finals, Third Place Match, and Grand Final

Due to broadcast and production requirements, all Finals fixtures must be played at their assigned times and are expected to be live streamed on Twitch.

Each day will follow a structured schedule:

• 11:00 - 12:00 (Fixture 1)
• 13:00 - 14:00 (Fixture 2)
• 15:00 - 16:00 (Fixture 3)
• 17:00 - 18:00 (Fixture 4)

Player Availability

By registering for the Xeno Championship, contestants are expected to:

• Be available to schedule fixtures within the 2-day scheduling window
• Be available to complete scheduled fixtures within the 4-day match window
• Be fully available on 30th and 31st August if the qualify for Finals

Failure to meet these availability requirements may result in match forfeiture.

Participartion in the Xeno Championship is limited to 32 contestants, with places being allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

There is no registration fee required to enter.

Registration Window

Registration will open automatically on 1st July and will close 4 days prior to the start of the tournament.

Once registration is open, a "Register Now" button will become available on the tournament's main page.

How to Register

To register for the Xeno Championship:

1. Click the "Register Now" button on the main page
2. Complete the registration form with the required details
3. Join the official Discord server (if not already a member)

Following submission, contestants will be contacted via Discord to confirm their registration and secure their place in the tournament.

Important Information

Before registering, contestants are strongly advised to:

• Review the Event Scheduling section
• Review the Participation Requirements section

By registering, contestants confirm that they:

• Are available to compete within the tournament schedule
• Are able to communicate and coordinate fixtures via Discord
• Intend to participate fully for the duration of the event

Failure to meet these expectations may result in removal from the tournament or forfeiture of fixtures.

Eligibility & Commitment

By registering for the Xeno Championship, contestants agree to actively participate in the tournament for its full duration.

Contestants must be able to:

• Compete in scheduled fixtures withiin each round's allotted time window
• Remain responsive and communicative throughout the tournament
• Commit to completing all assigned fixtures unless prevented by exceptional circumstances

Failure to meet these expectations may result in fixture forfeiture or removal from the tournament.

Communication Requirements

All contestants must:

• Be a member of the official Discord server
• Monitor Discord regularly for updates, fixture coordination, and announcements
• Respond to scheduling messages from opponents and Umpires in a timely manner

Clear and consistent communication is essential to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.

Match Coordination

Contestants are responsible for:

• Coordinating fixture times with their assigned opponent within each round's scheduling window
• Being present and ready to begin at the agreed fixture time
• Following any instructions provided by the assigned Umpire

A 15 minute grace period is allowed from the scheduled start time. Failure to attend within this period may result in a fixture loss by No Show.

Streaming & Recording Requirements

To ensure match verification and event coverage:

• At least one contestant per fixture must be capable of streaming the match live on Twitch or
• Providing a full recording of the fixture upon request

When streaming or submitting recordings of any fixture, both contestant's names must be visible at the top of the screen and not covered in any way by any ovelay graphics.

While live streaming is highly encouraged, and specifically required for Finals fixtures, the primary requirement is that match footage can be reviewed if necessary.

Technical Requirements

Contestants must have:

• A stable internet connection capable of completing online matches
• Access to No Man's Sky multiplayer functionality
• A valid No Man's Sky Friend Code for match coordination

Contestants are responsible for ensuring their setup is functional prior to their scheduled fixtures.

Conduct & Fair Play

All contestants are expected to:

• Compete fairly and in good spirit
• Respect opponents, Umpires and tournament organisers
• Follow all tournament rules and instructions

Unsportsmanlike behaviour, exploitation of unintended mechanics, or repeated disruption may result in penalties, disqualification, or removal from the tournament.

Finals Availability

Contestants who qualify for the Finals must be fully available on:

• 30th August for Quarter-finals
• 31st August for Semi-finals, Third Place Match, and Grand Final

As Finals fixtures follow a fixed schedule and are broadcast-focused, failure to attend may result in forfeiture.