Riot Games to revamp VCT circuit in 2027 to reduce tier one and tier two gap

Riot Games has teased massive changes coming to the 2027 VCT circuit, aiming to make it more open for tier two teams.

These changes will take effect at the start of the next season, which will mark the end of the first cycle of team partnership contracts.

Apart from this, the overhaul is also expected to attract new investments and raise the stakes of Challengers, as confirmed by Leo Faria, the Global Head of VALORANT Esports.

“We want to build on the success, evolve what’s working, adjust what’s not, and set the stage for the next era of VCT,” Faria shared.

The new system will seemingly focus on introducing a wider variety of competitions, formats, and event locations across all regions. That said, partnerships will still be the main component of the overall ecosystem.

Riot Games also teased the addition of new tournaments into the VCT circuit, particularly at the regional level. Exact details, however, will be revealed at a later date.

“While we think the number of global events is still appropriate, we’re looking to create more moments like that, especially at a regional level. It’s still very early and we’ll be sharing a lot more updates in this year and the next,” Faria stated. 

Over the past few years, several leading organisations have exited the competitive VALORANT scene due to the circuit’s limitations and lack of investments. Even tier one teams played around 20 series per season, unless the organisation was winning, resulting in high roster instability and limited opportunities for success.

Hopefully, the upcoming VCT changes will address these concerns and bring greater stability to the VALORANT esports ecosystem.

Lastly, VALORANT is also celebrating its fifth anniversary this year with the release of a new map, replay system, and Unreal Engine 5 upgrade in the coming months. Moreover, special parties will also be organized across all Riot Play Clubs, featuring themed items and activities.