With the first cycle of team partnerships coming to an end by the conclusion of 2026, Riot Games is taking this as the perfect chance to make "larger changes" ahead of the 2027 season.
Although the partnership system will remain the backbone of Valorant's esports, Riot has admitted the VCT should feel a bit more open. The idea is to better bridge the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2, between professional and community tournaments, while giving more teams the chance to compete at bigger stages.
Riot Games also wants to introduce more flexibility, adding more competitions, formats, and event locations across the globe. In the future, Valorant esports is confirmed to land in Toronto, Canada, and Paris, France, but next destinations are yet to be revealed.
Finally, Riot Games has revealed the goal to create "more ecosystem moments." While Riot has made it clear that the team things "the number of global events is still appropriate" the idea is to create more moments, especially at a regional level. Therefore, we could expect more regional, Tier 3, and even Tier 2 competitions, possibly putting top-flight teams every now and then in the mix.
With the partnership system allowing partnered organizations to stay in their respective continental top-flight without worrying about relegations while having a constant source of income in the VCT Classic Bundles and other VCT collections like the Valorant Champions Bundle, the spotlight is always in Valorant's top flight scene.
Meanwhile, although Valorant's Tier 2 scene includes regional leagues and a temporary promotion system, known as the Valorant Ascension, the opportunities for Tier 2 rosters are very limited. This means that great esports organizations outside of the circuit have almost no interest to invest in the scene, or only do it for a brief period of time — for a month or two while Valorant Ascension is played.
However, Riot Games seems to be already working on potential solutions. Improving the second tier is extremely important to keep competition alive, and changes would be surely be welcomed not just to attract bigger esports organizations but also bigger brands and, after all, bigger sponsors.
We will let you know as soon as more information is released. In the meantime, for more information about Valorant and the Valorant Masters Toronto, make sure to stick with us here at Siege.gg, the best site for Rainbow Six Siege coverage and any other major FPS title.