The VCT will look different when it returns at the start of 2024.
Partnered teams will have to navigate through the new VCT 2024 season format, bringing significant changes as the Valorant esports scene enters its fourth year.
These changes include a new kick-off season, two Masters events, the return of Championship points, the addition of a new region to the VCT, and the affiliate program.
Here is everything we know about next year’s Valorant Champions Tour from Riot Games’ “what to expect video.”
VCT 2024 season format explained
The VCT will welcome China as the fourth partnered league next year, which will have the same path as the Pacific, Americas, and EMEA leagues. Before China was officially brought into the VCT, Chinese teams had to go through qualifier tournaments in their region to make it into international events.
Kick-off tournament
The VCT 2024 season will begin with a two-week tournament in each international league. The top two teams from the four regions will qualify for Masters Madrid, the first global event of the year.
Champions points
A fundamental change introduced next year is the reimplementation of Champions points. In 2021 and 2022, teams in the VCT had to earn circuit points to qualify for Valorant Champions.
Champions points in 2024 will gauge each partnered team’s performance throughout the year, serving as the basis for qualification to global events.
The top-performing teams in each region with the most Champions points will also make it to Valorant Champions, the event all teams strive to qualify for at the start of the year.
The reintroduction of circuit points will also lead to a departure from previous years, with the 2024 season doing away with the Last Chance Qualifier tournament.
Affiliate program and challenger talent
Partnered teams will have a new way to tap into the emerging talent pool from the challenger scene with the affiliate program. This initiative underscores the VCT’s commitment to nurturing grassroots talent and providing a platform for aspiring players to showcase their skills on a larger stage.
The new VCT 2024 season format adds weight to each VCT tournament, with each match having more stakes than last year. This approach is designed to create a fast-paced and exciting start to the season, propelling teams into the global spotlight, according to Leo Faria, the Global head of Valorant esports.
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