Riot update on the situation regarding The Guard players

After suffering a lot of criticism and rejection in the VALORANT community, Riot Games decided to retract the situation regarding The Guard players not letting them participate in the VCT 2024. According to Riot’s latest statement via their Twitter account, the players and coaches can look for a new organization to play together in the next VCT season.

Likewise, this drama is still far from over, as there is talk that the players will not continue together for the next season. However, there is no doubt that this is great news for everyone in the community, as it makes us see that Riot is working to keep all parties (players, teams, and fans) on the same page and, above all, satisfied with their decisions.

Riot retracts its decision regarding The Guard players

After several days in a tense atmosphere on social networks, Riot Games decided to retract and allow former Guard players to play VCT 2024. However, they must stay together and find a different organization to be part of Riot’s franchise system for next season. Likewise, the lineup has yet to find a new home, but reports indicate that they are on the search for one.

An update regarding the players impacted by The Guard’s decision to not move forward with VCT Americas 2024-25 pic.twitter. com/oLhjSJDaYy

— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) September 1, 2023

As we know, The Guard lineup dominated the Challengers scene in VALORANT NA for the entire 2023 season. In addition, the team lifted the VCT Ascension Americas 2023 champions trophy. However, the org did not finalize its agreement with Riot Games to be part of the VALORANT Champions Tour. As a result, the game developers announced that no team from the Challengers scene would be promoted to the VCT for 2024, implying that all the effort of all the teams in the season was practically in vain.

An update regarding the teams participating in VCT Americas 2024. pic.twitter.com/YCYoZSPpcL

— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) August 29, 2023

Fans are a key player

Fans around the world, regardless of their colors (favorite team) or region, spoke out against Riot Games’ decision. In addition, many mention that players cannot be “punished” for problems that are the organization’s own.

After fighting for an entire season to fulfill their dream of qualifying for the VCT, the Guard players announced that they were free agents; thus, they were giving up that dream that, undoubtedly, had cost them a lot to fulfill.

However, this caused many complaints on all social networks by the community towards Riot Games, which caused the developers to reverse their decision. According to Riot’s statement, the former Guard lineup can play in VCT 2024, but the only condition is that they get an organization to meet the VCT requirements.

Players speak out and thank the community

Following Riot’s announcement that they are reconsidering their decision, former Guard players thanked Riot and the community. Jacob “valyn” Batio, the squad’s IGL, said on his Twitter that he thanked Riot Games for “reconsidering the decision” but also thanked the community who “voiced their opinions,” which helped tremendously in this situation.

Officially looking for an Org for VCT Americas 2024 🙂

Thank you Riot for reconsidering their decision, and special shout out to the community for voicing your opinions and aiding our situation https://t.co/7ETshtVVtj

— GUARD valyn (@valynfps) September 1, 2023

Now, the squad that won the VCT Ascension Americas 2023 will be able to play in the VCT 2024, but the condition is that they need to find an organization to represent quickly.

Header: The Guard