Last updated: 7/23/22, 5:45 p.m. ET
We've put together a tracker of all the news regarding Riot Games' partnership process for Valorant esports in 2023.
In April 2022, Riot announced its plans to turn Valorant into a "multigenerational sport in 2023 and beyond." The most drastic proposed change is that after the conclusion of the 2022 VCT circuit, Riot plans to introduce three brand-new international leagues that will feature "premier-level week-over-week competition" between select teams that are "long-term partners" and "fully invested in creating the best fan experience possible."
Health and safety permitting, the international leagues would feature matches played on LAN and in studios with audiences to determine which teams qualify for premier-level global tournaments such as Masters and Champions.
To sweeten the pot for organizations interested in applying for a partnership, Riot said it will forgo any participation/franchising fees and instead provide financial stipends to the selected teams in return for their investment.
Riot's ideal partner orgs are said to be those that have a "track record of building great esports experiences, developing players and can meaningfully contribute to the long-term growth of Valorant esports."
Per Dot Esports, Riot will decide and inform the partnered teams around Valorant Champions in September.
With over 15 big-name esports organizations and a fledgling Valorant pro scene dedicated to the title in North America at the moment, there is concern within the community as to how franchising would cut the cake in an Americas league reportedly sharing 8-12 spots with Latin America and Brazil.
Here is a list of every announcement and report regarding the process so far:
Valorant Esports 2023 Partnership Tracker
July 23, 2022
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports Cloud9 has informed its Valorant Academy roster that it will be released because of financial uncertainty regarding franchising.
July 22, 2022
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports over 150 organizations have submitted proposals globally to Riot in recent weeks and will be notified of their statuses in September.
- Complexity announces the org will "partially" exit the professional Valorant scene after Riot informed the org it would not be moving forward in the process. Although it will continue to support its women’s Complexity.GX3 roster as it competes in VCT Game Changers, the org's men's roster has been released to free agency.
- Built by Gamers CEO Todd Searle announces Riot has informed the organization it would not be moving forward in the process. BBG will be getting more information soon from Riot about what the NA Domestic League will look like, then decide if it’s still viable to support a team in that way. Searle reaffirmed that he wants BBG to remain in the scene "in some way."
- DarkZero announces it will exit the professional Valorant scene in what it hopes is a "temporary departure." Its roster has been released to free agency.
July 21, 2022
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports Sentinels, XSET and Gen.G were among the teams that were informed by Riot that they have made it through to the penultimate step in the process. Gen.G has allowed its players to explore their options, however, as the organization cites uncertainty surrounding the process. Knights did not make it to the next round. The Knights’ main roster has been placed on the market and its Academy team is set to be promoted.
July 20, 2022
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports a minimum of a dozen teams such as The Guard, TSM, Cloud9, NRG and Version1 have been informed by Riot that they have made it through to the penultimate step in the process. T1 is adamant it will remain in North America. In Korea, DRX Vision Strikers are likely through to the next round.
- Akrew CEO Daniel Luu announces the org will "temporarily" exit the professional Valorant scene after Riot informed the org it would not be moving forward in the process. Its roster has been released to free agency.
- Chad "Oderus" Miller announces they are a free agent and NYFU has disbanded because of NYXL exiting Valorant. No official announcement has been made on the side of NYXL.
July 15, 2022
- Shopify Rebellion announces Riot has informed the org it would not be moving forward in the process. With its newly acquired VCT roster getting ready to compete in the NA Last Chance Qualifier, Shopify Rebellion reaffirmed its desire to support all of its players in the immediate future. More information about the org's future in Valorant is said to be coming later this summer.
- SoaR Gaming owner Michael "Mak" Maknojia announces the org will "temporarily" exit the professional Valorant scene. Its roster has been released to free agency.
June 27, 2022
- Shopify Rebellion announces it has signed the ex-Luminosity Gaming Valorant roster.
June 17, 2022
- Shopify Rebellion program development lead Dario Wünsch announces the org has applied for a Riot partnership in Valorant.
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports CLG has applied for a Riot partnership in Valorant and will attempt to field a male Valorant team in the next few months.
- 1pv's neLendirekt reports G2 Esports has applied for a Riot partnership in Valorant in the Americas league, as well as applied for the European league as a backup option.
June 2, 2022
- Luminosity Gaming announces it will exit the professional Valorant scene for the "foreseeable future." Its roster will still play under the org’s banner throughout the remainder of VCT Stage 2: Challengers NA, but LG will try to find it a new home.
May 26, 2022
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports Riot hosted a meeting on May 23 where team owners and managers could ask questions to the developers regarding the partnership system. The leagues will each have around eight to 10 teams that will be directly invited next year, with 12 teams being the maximum if there was a decision to increase the number of slots.
May 6, 2022
- Dot Esports' George Geddes reports Riot has reached out to several tier-one esports organizations regarding the formal application process for the planned international league system. Several major organizations in North America have started to submit an expression of interest to Riot to partake in the process. The application process will begin in May and continue through June.
April 28, 2022
- Riot announces its plans to introduce three brand-new international leagues that will feature "premier-level week-over-week competition" between select teams that are "long-term partners" and "fully invested in creating the best fan experience possible."
For more on Valorant, feel free to check out our 2022 VCT coverage:
- Valorant Pros Share Their Go-To Buys for Pistol Rounds
- Valorant Pros Settle the Vandal vs. Phantom Debate
- VCT Pros Explain What the Best Map is in Valorant
- VCT Pros Reveal What the Worst Map is in Valorant
- Coaching ‘Vibey’ 100 Thieves Valorant, Sean Gares Finds Personal Growth as Well
- Valorant Pros Explain What Players Should Improve to Climb Ranked
- VCT Pros Reveal Their Favorite Post-Launch Valorant Agents
- Sean Gares Talks Future of Valorant Esports: 'We're Still Early on in the Game's Lifespan'
- Valorant Pros Share Their Favorite Melee Skins
- VCT Pros Explain What the Most OP Ultimate Ability is in Valorant
- Valorant Pros Reveal Where Their Dream VCT Events Would Take Place
This article was originally published on dbltap as Valorant Esports 2023 Partnership Tracker.