How Valorant Became One of the Fastest-Growing Esports

Valorant, the tactical first-person shooter game that came live in 2020, promises to revolutionize the Esports world and take it to the next step. From humble beginnings to international LAN events that broke many Esports records, Valorant’s Esports ecosystem has experienced meteoric growth. This article digs deep into the key milestones, innovations, and driving forces behind Valorant’s remarkable progression in Esports.

check out the full discussion on Reddit, where the community shares insights on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Valorant as a top-tier Esport.

Building A Solid Foundation

Ignition Series

Riot Games is renowned for its approach to the Esports world. League of Legends understands what can be done and what to avoid in this competitive league. Carefully knowing how to structure the ecosystem is very important, which is why Riot Games handled it from the beginning by creating the “Valorant Ignition Series” in 2020. A platform for third-party organizers to host Valorant tournaments. This was a massive step in scouting talents and teams, seeing overall what the Valorant community engagement looks like, and getting early thoughts on how the scene should look.

“We’re committed to building Valorant as a global esport from the ground up, and we believe that this commitment starts with supporting our community.” – Whalen Rozelle, Senior Director of Esports at Riot Games, reflecting the early philosophy behind Valorant esports.

The Ignition Series served several key purposes:

• Discovery: It allowed teams to discover talented players who could join their teams. 
• Experimentation: Tournament organizers took this opportunity to experiment with different formats and broadcast styles, refining the viewing experience.
• Community Building: It fueled excitement and raised the community around competitive Valorant.

Valorant Champions Tour: The Road to Glory

VCT Schedule

In late 2020, Riot Games unveiled the Valorant Champions Tour, a year-long global competition designed to crown the world’s best Valorant team. The VCT introduced a tiered system, offering aspiring professionals a clear path to the top. The structure was comprised of three distinct levels:

Challengers:

A regional competition that allowed teams to test each other’s strengths before going international. The Best two teams in the region will qualify for the Masters.

Masters:

International LAN events are where the best teams from each region compete for VCT points and have a chance to qualify for Champions.

Champions:

At the end of the year, the ultimate torment is that both qualified and point-earned teams can claim the best Valorant team title.

Key Milestones and Pivotal Moments

Masters Reykjavík Winners

Over the years, Valorant Esports has witnessed several pivotal moments that have changed the game forever.

• VCT 2021: Masters Reykjavík: The first international LAN in Valorant history, a huge step toward establishing a globally competitive scene, Sentinels came at the top and set the rules for future teams.
• VCT 2021: Champions: the start of a huge tournament marked the opening of one of the biggest stages of the Valorant scene.
• VCT 2022: Masters Reykjavík & Copenhagen: These events continued to build momentum, highlighting the rising competitiveness of different regions and introducing new strategies and agent compositions.
• The Introduction of Franchising (2023): This monumental shift saw Riot select partnered organizations for the international leagues (Americas, EMEA, and Pacific). This provided teams financial stability, long-term security, and a more structured competitive environment.
• VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo: The kick-off tournament for the franchised era, showcasing all 30 partnered teams and setting the stage for the year’s competition.
• VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo & Champions Los Angeles: had substantial viewership and tournament prize pool money growth.

Factors Driving the Growth of Valorant Esports

Valorant Esports Stats (via Esports Charts – escharts.com)

Several factors have contributed to the rapid expansion of Valorant esports:

• Riot Games’ Commitment: with previous experience in Esports, Riot Games knew how to implement the right things to make the scene work.

• The Appeal of the Game: Valorant’s blend of precise gunplay, strategic abilities, and diverse agent roster has resonated with both players and viewers. The game is easy to learn but challenging to master, making it engaging at all skill levels.
• A Thriving Community: Riot Games built a strong community by fulfilling their needs and meeting fans’ expectations.
• Excellent Broadcast Quality: Riot Games has consistently delivered high-quality broadcasts featuring knowledgeable casters, insightful analysis, and engaging production value.
• The Rise of Content Creation: many popular live streamers have helped introduce the Esports scene to regular players by co-streaming the official matches, significantly boosting tournament viewership. 

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite the significant growth, Valorant Esports still faces some challenges that could potentially harm the game’s long-term future. Maintaining a well-balanced competitive scene is essential to ensuring the competitive integrity between the regions. Another obstacle players face is the short time between tournaments, which could lead to player burnout and easily affect players’ performance.

Another significant challenge facing this scene is the toxicity in the community, which can harm both the casual and professional scenes, ultimately leading to a bad image. Riot Games continues to fight this harmful behavior by implementing strict measures to avoid this issue.

Is Valorant Esports Assured for Long-Term Success?

The future of Valorant Esports is looking bright. With Riot Games‘ commitment and support for this scene and community engagement, Valorant is poised to become one of the biggest Esports Games in the world. The game’s ongoing evolution, the emergence of new talent, and the development of innovative strategies will continue to captivate audiences and drive the growth of the competitive scene.

What are your thoughts on Valorant Esport’s growth? And should they change anything? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And dont forget to stay tuned for more Esport covered news and articles.