Riot Games to Partner with VALORANT Teams, Leagues to Begin in 2023
Multiple sources have revealed that organizations from various regions in VALORANT are preparing to submit their applications to Riot Games this week. If accepted, these teams will become members of one of three partnered leagues worldwide starting in 2023. The Americas league, for example, will feature eight to 10 teams from North America, Brazil, and Latin America. The league is expected to take place in the U.S., which means Brazilian and Latin American teams will have to relocate to compete. The minimum salary for players in the Americas league is around $50,000 per year, with additional stipends provided by Riot. Several tier-one organizations in North America currently pay between $10,000 and $20,000 per month in salary depending on the player.
Riot has requested financial details from organizations, as well as their plans for content production and marketing in VALORANT. Some organizations outside of VALORANT have also been approached by Riot to apply for next year. Teams will be notified within a month to six weeks if they have advanced to the next stage of the selection process, which will begin around the end of the year. Accepted teams may make roster changes before the start of the league in early 2023, and non-participating organizations may drop out of VALORANT as international leagues become the sole pathway to international tournaments. Luminosity recently announced its exit from VALORANT, but the reasons behind this decision remain unclear.
The unsigned roster of Luminosity is reportedly in talks with another North American organization to join their ranks. The VALORANT partnership system will be implemented in 2023 after the conclusion of the VALORANT Champions Tour circuit. Three leagues will be established in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with select teams qualifying for Masters and Champions events. As part of their partnership, teams may have the opportunity to collaborate on in-game cosmetics, which will serve as a major revenue source for organizations.
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