Riot games all set to undergo sweeping changes in the Valorant Champions Tour for next year

Riot has introduced sweeping changes to the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) circuit for the year of 2023. The reforms look to streamline the grassroot and regional tournaments into the main circuit. VALORANT is the fastest-growing esports scene right now, and Riot Games wants to take advantage of this momentum.

The blogpost put out by Riot Games in this regard also hinted at a franchising system for the upcoming year. The system would follow the League of Legends model for franchising the various leagues across the globe.

Franchising model

The main VALORANT leagues will be comparable to franchised leagues in that participating clubs will be part of a “long-term partnership model” with “fully invested” teams. Riot claims that this and similar methods will result in increased player compensation and more comprehensive support systems.

Riot will launch a “team application process” to determine which partnered teams will compete in the worldwide premier leagues. They’ll be looking for teams “with a track record of creating fantastic esports experiences, developing players, and contributing meaningfully to the long-term success of VALORANT esports.”

“These new features and events will provide long-term stability to one of the fastest growing esports in the world, attracting larger and more diverse talent pools, stronger partnerships, and even bigger digital and in-person experiences for fans and players alike. Riot Games will break new ground in the esports competitive space by forgoing any entry or participation fees for selected organizations, setting up long-term partners for success.”

– Riot Games

 

While no firm commitment has been made to bringing live crowds to large events in the future, Riot has claimed that in-person events will be a “safe reality” in 2022 and 2023.

Recognizing Talent Changes

Riot claims that as part of the new structure, VALORANT will get a new in-game mode intended to recognize the top talent worldwide. This mode will complement the existing leaderboards by giving players a new goal beyond competitive play that is integrated directly into the Esports ecosystem. This new feature is expected to be added into the game client sometime early next year.

“A new competitive in-game mode accessible to every player directly within the VALORANT client designed to identify the best talent worldwide. This mode will act as a supplement to the existing leaderboards, providing players with a new goal above ranked play that integrates into the esports ecosystem.”

– Riot Games

 

International Leagues

In addition, domestic leagues will be established in every part of the world. Since the beginning of the year, regional leagues have been running across Europe alongside the main circuit. Riot has announced that a similar format will be implemented in other regions. The best teams from each region will participate in one of three international leagues: The Americas, Europe, and Asia, which will include both local and international competition.

Teams from North America, Latin America, and Brazil will compete in the first league. The second will involve teams from Europe, Russia, Turkey, and the Middle East and North Africa. Teams from Southeast Asia, Korea, and Oceania will compete in the third league.

 

“Three new international leagues featuring week-over-week competition between the world’s best teams. The three international leagues, respectively composed of teams from the Americas, Europe, and Asia, will see the best players compete against each other in LAN settings and in front of live-audiences (health and safety conditions permitting). Throughout the year, the best teams from each league will qualify for two international Masters events and VALORANT Champions, where a single team will be crowned the VALORANT World Champion.”

– Riot Games

 

Third party Events and Game Changers

Riot has also granted a window following the conclusion of VCT 2022: Champions in September for third-party events to operate, similar to what is promised for 2022. Furthermore, Game Changers will have its own Championship, similar to what will be held later this year.

Since the primary VALORANT circuit will run from the beginning of the year until Champions, which is expected to end towards the end of September, teams will have many months to rebuild their rosters during the offseason.

“Riot Games will break new ground in the esports competitive space by forgoing any entry or participation fees for selected organizations, setting up long-term partners for success.”

– Riot Games

 

Existing Model

In addition to these changes Riot Games also announced that they plan continuing the existing system of internal events. The model that includes two ‘Masters Events’ and a ‘Champions Event’ where all the qualifiers culminate.

The only changes that were occur to these events would be when it comes to qualification. Instead of the ‘Challengers Events’ that also includes regional group stages the qualification to the international LANs would be via the newly announced international leagues.

 

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