Riot Games has revealed a series of changes to the Valorant ecosystem set to debut in 2027. The esports structure, currently based on franchise leagues, will transition to a tournament format, marking a significant shift in the game’s competitive landscape.
Under the new system, teams will start by competing in open qualifier events to earn spots in regional tournaments, which will replace the existing league format. The top performers in these regional competitions will then progress to international events like Masters and Champions, which will largely retain their current format.
This new approach will enable teams without a Riot partnership to access significant financial opportunities within the ecosystem. These include cash incentives linked to progression in each stage of the competition, participation in prize pools at regional and global events (amounting to over $6 million annually), financial assistance for travel and involvement in global tournaments, and faster, more regular payout schedules to support team activities throughout the season.
While Valorant is set to become a more inclusive esport, Riot will maintain partnerships with specific teams under a new two-year cycle. Teams can apply for partnership to receive basic compensation, performance-based bonuses, and a share of revenue from selected digital items, such as in-game skins. Partnered teams will also have preferential treatment in later stages of open qualifier tournaments.
Riot has also announced an expansion of the Valorant Champions Tour, with more live events scheduled worldwide than ever before. Over 20 tournaments will be held in person across more than 16 cities.
Further details will be disclosed later this year in anticipation of the Champions tournament.
Following the demise of the Overwatch League, the esports industry has been prompted to reconsider the sustainability of the franchise model. Valorant operates within a genre of esports known for its history of open tournaments. The new partnership structure bears similarities to the systems employed by Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League, with the former receiving praise from certain teams in the past for its direct impact on organizational revenue.