VALORANTLYON 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.
23 Oct 20264 min
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ValorantamericasMIBR Makes Full VALORANT Roster Inactive Before VCT 2027
MIBR joins EG, DRX, LYON, and other orgs as it announces its full VALORANT roster will become inactive, citing VCT 2027 partnership changes.
MIBR is making its entire VALORANT roster inactive, joining a growing number of teams departing before VCT 2027 partnership changes. Image Credits: @MIBR via X.com
MIBR is a household name in Brazilian FPS esports. As VCT 2027 changes loom and partnership deals are halting, multiple orgs have departed the VALORANT sphere. MIBR will now join them, and the team has just announced its entire VALORANT roster is becoming inactive. What happened, and why are teams leaving VALORANT esports? Let’s recap.
MIBR Announces Its VALORANT Operations Will Become Inactive
On October 23, 2026, Brazilian esports org MIBR announced that its entire VALORANT roster will shift to an inactive status. The move occurs as teams prepare for the VCT 2027 season, where Riot has announced major changes that reevaluate partnerships and shift from a franchised era to open qualifiers.
In the VCT Americas circuit, MIBR is a regular competitor. The team’s 2026 roster included aspas, Verno, Mazino, tex, and zekken.
The team’s disbandment leaves all of these players open to transfers. This means several industry veteran free agents are up for grabs: aspas, tex, and zekken are well-known in particular.
MIBR’s Statement
MIBR’s statement noted that the decision directly stemmed from “the significant changes to the competitive structure for 2027, including the regional transition and challenges associated with it.”
In full, the team’s statement read:
“Following discussions with the players’ representatives and considering the significant changes to the competitive structure for 2027, including the regional transition and the challenges associated with it, MIBR has decided to reassess its Valorant roster for the upcoming season.
As part of this process, the players will be moved to the inactive roster and made available for transfer negotiations. All existing contractual obligations remain in effect, and any potential transfers will be negotiated directly with MIBR.
We appreciate the players’ dedication and contributions to the organization and remain committed to handling this transition professionally and respectfully.”
Why Are So Many Esports Teams Leaving VALORANT in 2027?
MIBR is not the only org to depart the VALORANT scene before VCT 2027 starts. Champions 2023 winners Evil Geniuses fully disbanded earlier this week, citing VCT changes as a key reason. KIWOOM DRX was another long-standing competitor, this time from the VCT Pacific region, to shutter all VALORANT operations. Most recently, LYON departed as well, adding Mexico and LATAM to the list.
While the upcoming VCT 2027 changes make it easier for any qualified org to reach Champs without Riot partnership, they also end secure agreements for long-standing rosters. On one hand, this will bring plenty of fresh faces to the industry, introducing new talent instead of cycling through the same few teams. On the other, though, it puts franchised team revenue in peril.
This is one of the biggest changes the VCT has ever made. It will take a while to see the full effects on VALORANT’s competitive scene, and if Riot has just made a big money move or a big mistake overall.
Ludwig and C0M’s Reactions
Ludwig Ahgren, co-owner of Shopify Rebellion, also noted he ‘wants to leave’ VALORANT esports. The streamer and esports influencer stated while live, “I think that Shopify Rebellion should abandon VALORANT completely, and I think Riot Games has f—- us long enough, and I don’t know if I wanna pursue it anymore, because I see no reward for doing so.”
Former Evil Geniuses player C0M also stated that 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.“
Stay tuned for more VALORANT news.
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