VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Unveils Plans for 2024 Esports Season

Los Angeles, August 23 – The VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) is thrilled to announce its plans for the upcoming 2024 season, introducing a series of changes and enhancements that will elevate the sport for its fourth year of operation. Next year will see the introduction of a new international league, the arrival of global events in new locations, and the expansion of developmental circuits to year-round competition.

“We’re extremely proud of what we accomplished this year, in particular how our teams stepped up to promote the sport and their players, and we’re eager to unlock more opportunities in 2024 to highlight the best in the game,” said Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports. “We’re making changes to the season design and scope of our events for better progression, expanding our global footprint, and creating new ways for players and fans to experience VALORANT.”

A New Start to the Season Kickoff

2024 ushers in a new start to the season—an immersive two-week tournament in each International League. This new tournament will narrow down a total of 8 teams to compete at the first global event of the season –  Masters Madrid. This tournament will mark the first time a global VCT will be hosted in Spain, clearly establishing which is the best team at the top of the year.

Challengers: The Path to Pro Continues

Challengers, the cradle of aspirations for budding esports champions, evolves further in the coming year. Building on the momentum, the Challengers calendar is set to expand its footprint, operating year-round to provide more competition within tier 2 competition. Challengers will also introduce an innovative team affiliation and player loan system, unlocking increased player flow between International Leagues, Challengers, and Game Changers. Additionally, the new Premier mode will become the foundation of VALORANT’s journey to pro, providing players with an entry point into the VCT directly within the game.

Unprecedented Growth and the Ascension of New Teams

The upcoming 2024 season is set to redefine the pinnacle of the sport by accommodating an unprecedented number of elite teams in the top tier of competition. As the Ascensions event concludes, three triumphant teams emerge from the crucible of Challengers, earning the prestigious right to enter the International Leagues for the 2024 season. The Guard, Gentle Mates, and Bleed Esports, triumphed through a year of relentless competition, securing a two-year promotion into the international leagues.

Embracing Change: Championship Points

The forthcoming year ushers in a dynamic season structure with the introduction of Champions Points. Designed to heighten the crescendo of the season, Championship Points will be the unifying mechanism across International Leagues and Global Tournaments, serving as a measure of each teams’ performance and the qualification mechanism for global events. 

Unveiling China: Fourth Official League

Competitive opportunities will expand to new regions as China joins the illustrious ranks of the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific as the fourth official league in VCT. Recognizing the potential and contributions of the Chinese community, this momentous inclusion reflects VALORANT’s goal to be the world’s most global esport. In addition to the new league, Shanghai will also host the second Masters event of the season where twelve teams will battle for Championship Points and Champions qualification.

2024 VCT Calendar

For additional information on the 2024 VCT Season, Challenger Leagues, and VALORANT – head to VALORANTEsports.com.

ABOUT THE VALORANT CHAMPIONS TOUR

VALORANT is the highly competitive, 5v5 character-based tactical shooter attracting millions of players around the world. To foster and support global competition, Riot Games operates the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), a year-long, global circuit composed of leagues and global events spanning EMEA, Asia, and the Americas. Teams compete through four international leagues and global Masters events with the goal to qualify for Champions, a two-week long tournament where a single team is crowned the VALORANT Global Champion.