Riot Games Faces Backlash for Lack of Events in Europe during VALORANT OFF//SEASON
Riot Games recently announced a series of VALORANT events that will take place during the extended downtime between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. However, the schedule has sparked controversy, particularly among the EMEA community.
The global head of VALORANT esports, Leo Faria, faced heavy criticism from fans after he made a joke about the lack of major events in Europe on Reddit. Faria responded to the criticism by stating that there are already nine events announced for the EMEA region, which is more than last year.
In a post about the upcoming OFF//SEASON schedule for EMEA, NRG Esports player Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks asked about any events happening in Europe. Faria’s dismissive remark about EMEA spending the offseason polishing their trophies sparked swift backlash from fans and players in the region.
EMEA Events Region-Locked, Raising Concerns
Maryville Esports’ Adam “ec1s” Eccles voiced his complaint about the region-locked nature of the events in EMEA. In contrast, North America will have open qualifiers, allowing any team in the region to compete. This discrepancy has raised questions about fairness and accessibility for European teams.
Case Esports’ head coach Lucas Rojo also expressed frustration, as he can only compete in events held in Spain. This means he and his team will have to wait several months before the start of the new competitive season in 2024.
Downtime Challenges for Tier-Two VALORANT Scene
This extended downtime has led to concerns about the sustainability of the tier-two VALORANT scene in Europe. Without events to compete in, many teams struggle to find support and maintain their rosters. This lack of opportunities also affects pro players and staff, potentially creating an unstable environment for aspiring professionals.
Along with the challenges faced by the European scene, the profitability of esports as a whole is also a concern. Without major steps taken to address these issues, the future of the European VALORANT scene may be at risk.
Riot Games, VALORANT, EMEA, events, OFF//SEASON, controversy, backlash, region-locked, accessibility, sustainability, esports, European scene