VALORANT Ranked Play and the Potential for an FPL System
Ranked play can be a frustrating experience for highly skilled players in any game, including the popular esports title VALORANT. Some players, like VALORANT superstar Tyson “TenZ” Ngo, believe that the introduction of an FPL (FACEIT Pro League) system would greatly benefit the game.
All team-based games with ranked modes face similar problems, such as toxic players, boosted players, lack of communication, and highly skilled players who don’t prioritize teamwork. An FPL system, like the one used in FACEIT Pro League, attempts to address these issues. It offers pick-up games for professional players, utilizes an Elo system, and awards cash prizes at the end of each session.
However, there are downsides to implementing official third-party systems like FPL. It could potentially devalue the original ranked experience, which may not be the direction Riot Games wants to take during the early stages of VALORANT’s life cycle. Nevertheless, systems like FPL reward teamplay and create a competitive environment where aspiring amateur players can play alongside more skilled individuals, increasing their chances of being noticed.
Riot Games is acknowledging the concerns of professional players, although concrete solutions may take some time to implement. In a Twitter response, Riot employee EvrMoar mentioned that they are investigating ways to provide a competitive space for five-stacks, but the exact details are still under consideration.
Ultimately, ranked modes should provide a competitive space for players. Riot Games has yet to determine the best approach for VALORANT, whether that involves keeping everything in-house or collaborating with third-party platforms like FACEIT.
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