Riot Games has announced a new multi-year partnership with Movember aimed at strengthening mental health support across its top-tier EMEA esports competitions.
According to the release, Movember will become the Official Mental Health Partner of the LEC and VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA for 2026 and 2027. The partnership will also include VCT Game Changers EMEA.
Under the agreement, Movember will work alongside Riot Games to provide mental health training, tools, and resources for players and team staff.
The initiative will also include player-only roundtables focused on stress, competitive pressure, and coping strategies, as well as on-broadcast and on-site messaging designed to reduce stigma and encourage more open conversations around mental well-being within esports.
“Supporting the well-being of the VCT EMEA community, our players, and team staff is something we are committed to strengthening, so we’re thrilled to welcome Movember as a partner,” said Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports, EMEA.
Normalising these conversations “beyond the competitive stage,” Movember’s expertise is expected to provide practical tools and ensure that everyone connected to the ecosystem feels supported by professionals, according to Ringland.
What is Movember
Movember is a global non-profit organisation known for tackling men’s mental health challenges and suicide prevention, alongside broader men’s health issues. With its annual November fundraising campaign, Movember has been ‘challenging the status quo in men’s health’.
This partnership comes at a time when mental health support is increasingly viewed as a necessary component of professional esports.
Players often face intense schedules, frequent travel, performance-based contracts, and constant online exposure, all while competing at a young age. By formalising mental health resources across its major EMEA leagues, Riot Games appears to be responding to long-standing concerns within the scene about burnout, stress, and the sustainability of esports careers.
Concerns around player well-being in the LEC ecosystem were highlighted three years ago in an investigative article that shed light on the psychological pressures faced by pro players. Mental health has since remained a recurring topic of discussion within the community.
