The Future of VALORANT’s Tier Two Scene Raises Concerns for Some Organizations
The upcoming season of the 2023 VALORANT Champions Tour is set to be an exciting one. The esports scene is shifting to a partnership model that aims to highlight global leagues, grow regional leagues, and provide opportunities for aspiring players.
However, there is one area where the current system falls short. Little has been said about the support that the tier two scene will receive, and there is no clear path for tier two teams to make their way into the partnered league.
This combination of uncertainty, high costs, and a limited number of notable third-party tournaments to compete in has led some organizations to question their future in VALORANT. As a result, a few have made the difficult decision to step away from the scene, at least for now.
All Teams and Organizations That Have Left VALORANT Before the 2023 VCT Partnership
Ghost Gaming
- Entered VALORANT in January 2021.
- Left VALORANT in September 2022 after failing to secure a partnership. Released roster.
DarkZero
- Entered VALORANT in the summer of 2021 by signing the Kooky Koalas roster.
- Left VALORANT in July 2022, according to members of the starting roster.
NYFU (NYXL)
- Entered VALORANT in September 2020 under the Andbox banner.
- Rebranded to NYFU in April 2022 after signing a new roster.
- Left VALORANT in July 2022, according to members of the starting roster.
Luminosity
- Entered VALORANT in August 2020.
- Left VALORANT in June 2022. The roster eventually signed with Shopify Rebellion.
Rise
- Entered VALORANT in August 2020.
- While they haven’t officially left VALORANT yet, most of their roster has transferred to other organizations.
SoaR
- Entered VALORANT in April 2021.
- Left VALORANT in July 2022, according to an official announcement from president Michael Maknojia.
Akrew
- Entered VALORANT in October 2021.
- Left VALORANT in July 2022 after not advancing to the next round of the partnership application process.
Complexity
- Entered VALORANT in July 2020.
- Parted ways with their men’s VALORANT roster in July 2022 after not advancing to the next round of the partnership application process. They will continue to support the GX3 women’s roster in Game Changers.
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