VALORANTDRX Releases VALORANT Players After Losing VCT Partnership
Kiwoom DRX has downsized most of its VALORANT players and staff after VCT 2027 partnership changes. Here’s a recap.
22 Oct 20263 min
Back to NewsValorantamericas
ValorantamericasLYON Leaves VALORANT After VCT 2027 Partnership Changes
Mexican org LYON, a mainstay in VALORANT Challengers, has announced it will disband its roster after not securing VCT 2027 partnership.
LYON has ended its VALORANT operations after VCT 2027 partnership changes. Image Credits: LYON
LYON began its VALORANT run in 2020. Now, as major VCT 2027 restructures loom on the horizon, LYON has announced it is ending all esports operations involving the title.
LYON Leaves VALORANT Esports
On October 22, 2026, Mexican esports org LYON announced it would officially shut down all VALORANT operations. The team, which operated in VALORANT’s Challengers circuit, has been active in the scene since 2020.
The move arrives shortly after VALORANT announced major changes to the VCT 2027 qualification system. The era of franchised teams is coming to an end. Riot is reevaluating its esports partnerships and introducing new Open Qualifiers, keeping long-standing organizations on their toes.
On the week of October 18, Riot began notifying orgs on whether they received an invitation to the next tournament season. Teams that were not on the list took to social media to voice their frustrations and talk about the VCT’s future. LYON revealed in its announcement post that it had reportedly applied in the process, but had not been selected for a partner status.
LYON’s Statement
Lyon wrote on official social media channels:
“We want to share an important decision about the future of Lyon in VALORANT with our community.
Following the resolution of the VCT Partner selection process for 2027, in which we participated transparently and professionally, we have made the decision not to participate in the upcoming season of the circuit.
[…] Our responsibility as leadership is to ensure that every project we take part in has a real impact on our subregion and our fans. For this reason, we will redirect our resources, talent, and infrastructure toward the disciplines and spaces where conditions exist to build for the long term, raise the level of the LAN scene, and deliver maximum value to our community and partners.“
Why is LYON Leaving VALORANT?
The org elaborated on its decision, citing lost investments, an unstable ecosystem, and differing priorities. LYON drew particular attention to LATAM VALORANT, noting that there is a ‘lack of structural guarantees’ for teams in the region.
“Throughout this process, we put our time, infrastructure, and our club’s vision for the growth of the scene on the table. However, after evaluating the circuit’s current conditions, the lack of structural guarantees for Latin America North (LAN), and a model where 100% of the risk falls on the clubs, we understand that today the ecosystem’s priorities are not aligned with those of our organization.
We sincerely thank the team, players, and staff who represented Lyon with dedication in every competition. Likewise, we acknowledge the respectful dialogue with Riot Games throughout this process, and we maintain a cordial and institutional relationship.”
Why Are So Many Teams Leaving VALORANT?
LYON is one of several esports teams leaving VALORANT ventures behind this week. Evil Geniuses, the 2023 Champions winners with nearly three decades of esports history, shut down its entire operation. KIWOOM DRX, another industry veteran, also released most of its VCT Pacific and VALORANT Challengers Korea rosters.
All of these decisions arrived after the VCT 2027 restructures. With next season no longer guaranteeing continued partnerships, some teams are reevaluating whether investing in VALORANT esports is worthwhile. Additional departures could follow.
Streamer, commentator, and esports industry figure Ludwig Ahgren, who co-owns Shopify Rebellion, recently stated: “I think that Shopify Rebellion should abandon VALORANT completely […] I don’t know if I wanna pursue it anymore, because I see no reward for doing so.”
C0M, who was on Evil Geniuses’ Champs 2023 winning roster, also commented he thinks it “will probably be a common trend, seeing a lot of orgs drop out of VALORANT, I know they are ceasing completely just talking in general, at least for the time being with the new system. Gonna be a rough time for many people in the scene. Prayers for everyone and wish everyone the best in this time.”
617
This is perhaps the most significant restructure in VCT history. Only time will tell if the move is a stumbling block or a kick-starter for the VALORANT esports scene.
Stay tuned for more VALORANT esports news.
Continue Reading
VALORANT
VALORANTRiot Reveals VCT 2027 Global Tour: Schedule, Champions Location, and More Changes
Riot Games has just revealed the VCT 2027 Global Tour, including schedules and locations. The Valorant season moves to a tournament-first format with more than 50 events, 15 cities, open qualifiers starting in November 2026, and guaranteed payouts for non-partner teams.
15 Oct 20265 min
VALORANTVCT 2027 Partner Teams: A World Champion Just Lost Its Seat
Riot said community resonance mattered more than trophies. The list proves it. Evil Geniuses won Champions in 2023 and is gone. So is the org that won Masters Copenhagen. And in the Americas, nobody new came in at all.
22 Oct 20265 min