Riot Games Announces Launch of VALORANT Premier System in Open Beta
Riot Games has officially revealed that the highly anticipated VALORANT in-game competitive system, known as Premier, will be launching in open beta at the beginning of Episode Six, Act Three, which is expected to be in May.
Premier: The Path to Pro in the VALORANT Esports Ecosystem
Premier has been dubbed as the starting point for aspiring professional players in the VALORANT esports ecosystem. Leo Faria, the global head of VALORANT esports, confirmed that Premier will eventually replace the current foundation of the game’s professional scene.
A Promising Future for Premier
In an announcement video for the open beta, Faria stated, “In the future, Premier will be the path to the VCT Challengers leagues. No more open qualifier events. Your path-to-pro starts in-game.” He also confirmed this change on Twitter, emphasizing that Premier has the potential to become the sole pathway to the VCT Challenger leagues.
Premier’s Impact on the VALORANT Esports Landscape
This shift to Premier replacing open qualifiers marks a significant change in the esports ecosystem. Previously, the official VALORANT Champions Tour overview page stated that the in-game competitive system would create decisive moments where lower-ranked Challenger teams would defend their place against rising online talents. However, Faria’s statement clarifies that all teams will have to go through Premier to reach the Challengers stage in their respective regions.
In 2021 and 2022, open qualifiers served as the entry point for top-tier VALORANT competition across all regions. While tier-one shifted to a new partnership model this year, open qualifiers remained the gateway to tier-two and Challengers leagues.
Future Outlook for Premier
Since Premier’s launch is scheduled for the middle of this year and most Challengers leagues already have their teams locked in, it is likely that Premier will officially replace VCT open qualifiers starting in 2024. Faria has promised to share more details and dates soon.
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