The First International VALORANT Tournament of 2023 to Feature Mandarin Broadcast for Chinese Viewers
The upcoming VALORANT tournament in 2023 will include a Mandarin broadcast specifically for Chinese viewers, according to Leo Faria, global head of VALORANT esports. This is a significant move by Riot Games, the developer of VALORANT and owned by Chinese conglomerate Tencent, as they continue their expansion into the Chinese market.
This Mandarin broadcast is a first for international VALORANT tournaments, showcasing Riot Games’ commitment to cater to the Chinese audience. With this, they hope to tap into the enormous Chinese gaming market.
In preparation for the VCT LOCK//IN tournament, Riot added two Chinese teams, EDward Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix, to bring the total number of teams participating to 32. Held in São Paulo, Brazil, the VCT LOCK//IN is scheduled to start on February 13. Both EDward Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix will compete against other top teams from around the world.
Leo Faria recently organized an event to share Riot’s vision and plans for VALORANT esports with various organizations. Photos from the event were posted by Faria on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform.
Given that the Chinese gaming market is one of the largest in the world, Riot sees the potential in tapping into this market. Riot has already taken steps to include Chinese teams in international tournaments, with EDward Gaming qualifying for Champions, one of the most prestigious events in the VALORANT calendar last year. However, despite their efforts, EDG did not secure a victory at the tournament, losing to Team Liquid and Paper Rex.
EDward Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix will now have another chance to compete on the international stage in the first VALORANT event of 2023, LOCK//IN. EDward Gaming will face off against 100 Thieves, while FunPlus Phoenix is set to compete against Karmine Corp.The tournament is scheduled to start on February 13 and conclude on March 4.
VALORANT, tournament, Mandarin broadcast, Chinese viewers, Riot Games, expansion, Chinese market, VCT LOCK//IN, Chinese teams, EDward Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix.