Big VCT Changes Planned for 2027

VALORANT esports will enter a new phase next year as Riot Games introduces some significant changes. Among other adjustments, the Season format will switch up, several new events will join the lineup, and fresh teams will become eligible for financial rewards. Let’s explore everything to know about the VCT changes coming in 2027.

Riot Games Announces Big VCT Changes in 2027

On June 18 2026, Riot Games posted a News announcement revealing major shake-ups to the VCT competitive structure. The adjustments will go into effect in 2027, kicking off after the current competitive season concludes. In an accompanying YouTube video, Riot Representatives listed the decisions, but also mentioned that the studio is ‘still building this’ and additional changes may follow.

What Are VCT Cups? New Events

First off, Riot Games is adding an extra qualification step to Masters events. Teams will compete in two Cups throughout the year. Riot states that “Cups will replace regular season play.” To get into these Cups, teams have to either compete successfully in the Kickoffs or pass through several new Open Qualifiers. These Open Qualifiers add new VCT entry pathways for independent Open teams.

New Open Qualifiers

For years, the VCT has had an extremely thorough team selection setup. Most orgs had to qualify as Partnered Teams to participate. In 2023, VALORANT introduced Ascension. The tournament added variety to this process by reserving a single slot for the strongest Tier 2 roster. This ensured fresh faces cycled into Tier 1 each year, and also put pressure on current teams to preserve their performance.

In 2027, Riot Games aims to encourage a wider and more competitive talent pool with more Open Qualifier events. VCT Americas, Pacific, and EMEA Kickoffs will each feature 12 teams, split between 8 partner teams and 4 teams from Open Qualifiers. Riot decided on this to give Open teams “a real shot [at competing in major events like Masters and Cups], rather than a single token slot”. The top three teams from each region at Kickoff will earn a spot at Masters, but from there, qualification is purely performance-based. Even though Partner teams directly enter Kickoff, they have to keep earning their place throughout the season rather than coasting on guaranteed spots at every Cup.

How Do The VCT Open Qualifiers Work?

Low-scoring teams at Cups and Masters events will drop down into Open Playoffs and need to claw their way back up, while teams with poor or no prior results will have to start fresh at Open Qualifiers. It’s important to note that the VCT’s China region runs on a slightly different model, where partner teams and visitor teams both get direct entry into Kickoff and the first two Cups. VCT China’s 12-team Kickoff will include 8 partner teams, 2 visitor teams, and 2 Open Qualifier teams. The visitor team system in China keeps the promotion path constantly circulating, giving more teams a way to stay in the ecosystem. VCT Pacific will also introduce a Last Chance Qualifier, giving orgs from South Asia and Oceania another route into Kickoff and Cups.

So, to summarize:

• There are now three Open Qualifier events throughout the VCT year.
• All regions except China will have 4 Open Qualifier Kickoffs slots.
• VCT China’s Kickoff will include 8 Partner Teams, 2 Visitor Teams, and 2 Open Qualifier teams.
• VCT Pacific will now include a Last-Chance Qualifier.

Support for Open and Creator Teams

As Riot Games seeks fresh faces in competitive VALORANT, the studio is making its support for independent and creator-led teams clear. The recent news release emphasizes that they are entitled to the same opportunities as Partner Teams as long as they follow appropriate rules: “Open and creator-led teams can compete, qualify, and build toward larger events just like any other team. The key requirement is roster continuity. If a team keeps at least three out of five players, it keeps its points and progress.” This will allow Open and Creator teams some flexibility to finesse their team comps and strategies, so they can compete with longer-standing Partnered orgs.

Creator teams are becoming far more common in esports. Riot Games frequently hosts showmatches at its major competitive events. The recent Summit Showmatch featured influencers like Sage main Grim and Game-Changers legend meL. In the League world, Los Ratones made history as a team with a full roster of streamers who broadcast every scrim live. After they won several EMEA Masters events, Riot Games reconsidered previous streaming rules and structural requirements. The new Open Qualifier changes could open doors for similar teams in VALORANT. Free agent ex-pros could assemble the Avengers, or streamers could team up to climb from Twitch to the trophy.

Riot Games Will Reward Open Teams Entering VCT

It’s easy to ask for new competitors to join the fray, but it seems like Riot Games is putting its money where its mouth is. The studio is offering financial rewards to non-Partnered teams for every Kickoff, Cup, Masters, and Champions qualification. The rewards are as follows:

• Kickoff/Cup: 100,000 USD
• Masters: 200,000 USD
• Champions: 400,000 USD
• Game Changers Championship: 100,000 USD

This significant financial support will make a big impact on smaller teams, letting successful rosters sustain themselves. It also notably provides an incentive for these teams to field and invest in Game Changers rosters.

Performance Before Partnership: Will This Fix the VCT?

All in all, these changes aim to keep the VCT world dynamic. The opportunity gap between established Partnered orgs and newer teams was keeping the competitive scene stagnant, and the impact on fans was beginning to show.

In recent weeks, several prominent community members have expressed upset with VALORANT’s competitive and ranked systems. Streamer and player @Dasnerth was among them, writing in a lengthy X.com post that “VALORANT’s ranked ladder is in the worst state it has ever been since the game has came out […] It is genuinely sad that this is how the game has turned out.” Dasnerth also alleged that “Tier 2 players are selling accounts to make money, even selling their own accounts just to make profit.” The post received over 235,000 views and surpassed 2,000 likes. Other community members have commented on viewership statistics after the Masters London Grand Finals.

While VALORANT soared onto the esports scene at a rapid pace after its 2020 launch, the game needs to sustain its influence to stay relevant. Rewarding Open qualification teams and providing more promotion pathways will motivate new generations of talent to invest their time and energy into the title. Plus, it keeps existing teams on their toes. It creates opportunities for underdog stories, big upsets, rapid team rises, and other fresh storylines. Only time will tell if the 2027 VCT changes will satisfy the community, but they seem to address some key points of frustration.

Riot Games writes in its original news release:

“The 2027 VCT structure is designed to make the sport more open, more competitive, and more connected to regional communities […] The result is a VCT where teams can rise faster, fans can follow more meaningful matches, and global events are connected to a deeper competitive foundation. Open teams can qualify for everything. Partner teams have to keep performing. Every match matters. And in 2027, everything is still a tournament.”