A Marvel Rivals streamer who was abruptly sidelined from a major tournament has had the ultimate redemption. After his teammates turned on him following a strategy dispute, Kingsman265 was stunned to receive community donations totaling over $3,000—matching the grand prize he would have earned for a first-place finish.
The drama centered around the Deadpool Creator Cup, an event organized by streamer BazimZB in partnership with NetEase to celebrate the arrival of the Merc with a Mouth. Like most competitive showcases, it brought together content creators to battle for a slice of a significant cash pool.
With $40,000 on the line, the stakes were high, particularly for the winning squad members who stood to take home $3,000 each. Following a draft on January 13, teams were given five days to hone their synergy before the main event on January 18.
Kingsman265 was selected for Team Cece, joining creators like BigPuffer and Zazzastack. However, practice sessions quickly turned sour. Kingsman, a seasoned veteran of the hero shooter, clashed with his teammates while trying to refine their team composition and maximize their chances of winning.
“I’ve reached Rank 1 and consistently hit the top 500 in every role. I understand this game inside and out,” he explained in a retrospective video. He emphasized that his intensity came from a place of financial necessity: “I’m here to win because I genuinely need the money. Three thousand dollars is a life-changing amount for me right now.”
His teammates, however, felt his approach was abrasive. Cece later characterized his behavior as “disrespectful,” leading the group to decide on his removal. She noted that while the decision was collective, she didn’t appreciate the tone of the interaction during their practice sessions, suggesting that the team dynamic had become untenable.
The story took a turn when Kingsman265’s explanation video exploded, surpassing 1.5 million views. When he returned to Twitch on January 20, he found a flood of support. “This is insane,” he told his audience. “I’ve already surpassed the $3,000 I was playing for, so please, stop the donations. I’m not looking for charity.”
In the aftermath, Cece issued a public apology on X (formerly Twitter), admitting that she let her emotions get the better of her during the heat of the moment. Despite the apology, the fallout continued as her sponsor, InfinityMice, terminated their partnership and expressed interest in reaching out to Kingsman instead.
While Marvel Rivals features some of the most iconic powerhouses in comic history, this incident proves that a united community can be a force far more potent than any Super Hero. Well, with the exception of Squirrel Girl, perhaps.
In other news, NetEase is tightening its grip on the game’s ecosystem, announcing a new “combat behavior detection system” designed to eliminate AFK farmers, with penalties ranging from warnings to permanent account bans.
