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Riot Games
Riot Games and the Valorant esports division revealed their plans and visions for Valorant Challengers and the path to going pro in a recent blog post. Global head of Valorant esports Leo Faria talked about the changes to the Valorant Tier 2 ecosystem and the integration of the Premier system to the Challengers scene. Faria acknowledged that the esport should be accessible, welcoming of anyone who wants to participate, and have a clear path to pro. Here’s a gist of all the changes that will be coming to the Valorant Tier 2 ecosystem in 2024.
Changes lined up for Valorant Challengers in 2024
Talking about how this year many Challengers teams fought to make it to the main league, Leo Faria commended, "We’re very excited to see how the three ascended teams, The Guard in Americas, Gentle Mates in EMEA, and Bleed Esports in Pacific, will shake up their respective International Leagues next year."
Riot Games also noted that it does not see Challengers as a destination, but as a stepping stone where players hone their skills for the next level. Some of the areas that it wants to improve in 2024's Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) and Tier 2 ecosystem are as follows:
Instead of limiting Challenger Leagues to run from January to June, Riot Games is planning to run them year-round. Additionally, Challengers Ascension will be moved to September, after Champions, so that it has its own moment in the spotlight.
Second, Riot Games is changing the concept of player mobility. Riot Games has decided to allow teams in the International Leagues to build an affiliate relationship with Challenger League teams and create a new player loan system. This will ensure teams exchanging players more freely, "with the goal of seeing the resources from the top of the pyramid support Tier 2 player development."
Lastly, Premier teams can also now qualify for the Challengers circuit as Riot Games seeks to integrate the system with Tier 2.
Leo Faria and Riot Games hoped that the context given regarding the future of the Tier 2 ecosystem in Valorant esports will reflect their commitment and how they are setting it up for success in the long term.
More plans and details about the shaping up of these leagues in the regional level will be revealed in the next few months. "I’m sure some of these changes will yield positive results, while others may not hit their mark. The one thing you can be sure of is our willingness to learn, adapt, and evolve. We’ll never truly be done," noted Faria.
