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Valorant’s tournament mode was first teased by Riot Games back in 2020 when Design Director Joe Ziegler and Systems Design Lead David Cole revealed in a Dev Diaries video that they are interested in creating team-based experiences outside of the competitive modes. Since then multiple Valorant developers have confirmed that a tournament mode is in the works but have kept details under wraps.
There is no official word on when the tournament mode will go live but recent leaks suggest that we are getting Valorant’s tournament mode by the end of this year. Here is everything we can expect from the new tournament mode in Valorant.
What to expect from Valorant’s tournament mode?
When Ziegler outlined the competitive changes for Act III, he said, “We’ve heard from others that there is a desire for even more organized team play, but just not in the same queue. We hear you on these things, they may take some time to implement.”
In-client tournaments have existed in Riot Games titles for a long time. ‘Clash!’ tournaments exist in League of Legends and Legends of Runeterra has its entire esports ecosystem based on its in-game tournament mode.
Rocket League has one of the best implementations of tournament modes for players with plenty of rewards up for grabs. Exclusive player cards, titles, and bragging rights are more than enough to get most players pumped up. While the upcoming tournament mode might not be a gateway to esports, it could definitely be one of the best ways to play Valorant in a competitive setting outside of ranked play.
Leaks suggest that players will be able to play in leagues to earn points and there will also be a minimum level requirement to participate in these events. Teams will be placed in various divisions based on their performances to ensure the tournament lobbies are balanced.
The release date for the tournament mode is unknown and Riot Games is yet to officially announce a release window. However, the devs have been working on it for over two years and reliable leaker ValorLeaks stated that we can expect to see the mode by the end of 2022.
