The VALORANT circuit will change next year

Next year, everything will be different in competitive Valorant. Because the open system will no longer exist, we will probably see fewer crazy stories and definitely no more underdogs.

The VALORANT Champions Tour Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen and the upcoming VALORANT Champions in Turkey mark the conclusion of Riot Games’ open system for proffesional play. With the switch to partner organizations in international top leagues, starting next year the game will no longer have the open system that has caused a lot of surprises in recent years.

System will change

VCT Masters Copenhagen brought four new teams to the international VALORANT stage, two more than last year’s League of Legends World Championship. While seeing new and unique teams at the highest level of competition is not the only thing that makes these events exciting, it is that extra something that the open system has brought into Valorant esports. 

While the best teams in the current system often come out on top, adding Leviatán, Guild Esports, or NORTHEPTION gives other teams a chance to win. Some League of Legends fans might remember what it was like before franchising came along. There was a time in Europe when newly promoted teams from the European League of Legends Championship Series were sent to the World Championship.

Counter-Strike fans don’t need to reminisce about years past. At PGL Major Antwerp 2022, the Bad News Eagles, an unorganized team from Kosovo, qualified via the European RMR for one of the biggest tournaments of the year. They even made it to the Legends Stage, one stop before the playoffs, but then got eliminated.

There will be no motivation for the teams

VALORANT will no longer have the ability to tell such stories in 2023 when the new system will be launched. Many teams will no longer appear in the circuit and won’t have a shot at the glory of their first international appearance. This could make the whole circuit a little more mediocre and boring.

What fans will also not see next year is the same level of competitive spirit across the world to compete in international tournaments. This phase of VALORANT was extremely competitive, with close races to advance to the Copenhagen phase. But with teams already having a chance to compete for those spots, that ambition may wane.

While the never-ending qualification system at the VCT can be a little annoying at times, in 2021 it felt like every tournament except the Champions was a qualifier for the year-concluding event. This kept the teams on their toes and gave them greater purpose and motivation.

No more underdogs, no more upsets?

The opposite of this phenomenon can be seen in all franchised esports — the worst teams remain in last place and seemingly have no intention of improving. Specific examples include Immortals in the LCS, Paris Legion in the Call of Duty League, and Misfits in the League of Legends European Championship Series.

Three franchises with little success and without a large following despite years of play. The affiliate system might discourage that level of mediocrity. Riot will reportedly need to renew org partnerships every four years, but the days of big orgs going up against surprise Tier 2 teams in qualifiers will be over.

The affiliate system could also create alienation between fans when it comes to non-native organizations setting up internationally. According to reports, more than 150 teams have applied to participate in the American League, not all of which can be from the region.

No more chance for smaller line-ups

For now, Valorant fans have to adjust to seeing regional teams and small aspiring squads staying in their original lane. So when G2 Esports comes to America or Version1 gets a spot in EMEA, the local camaraderie for fans who have been with those teams since the beginning will likely crumble.

Riot has had years to rethink its current franchise system and analyze what worked and what didn’t work in LoL, which is now presumably being applied to the new title, so our worst fears may not materialize. However, the messy and clutter-prone system we have right now won’t exist after Champions, that’s why as fans we should enjoy the upsets, the underdog stories, and the new teams while they’re here before they’re gone.

Header: Riot Games