As the 2024 season comes to a close, with only a few off-season tournaments remaining, it’s time to discuss the upcoming changes in the EMEA region for the next season. These changes, effective from 2025, will significantly impact the competitive ecosystem, creating new opportunities but also presenting challenges for teams and players aiming to build a professional career.
Improvements to Challengers in EMEA
New Competition Format
Starting from 2025, the VALORANT Challengers format in the EMEA region will undergo changes. The season will be divided into three stages, each split into two parts. Each stage will begin with regular leagues, where the top two teams from each league will qualify for a new tournament—Challengers EMEA. In this tournament, the strongest teams in the region will compete against each other. These changes will provide teams with more practice and game experience, and viewers with more content. However, there are also some downsides.
Pros
- Player Development: The new format provides additional tournaments and events for teams from various European countries, helping to raise their overall level of play. More matches between teams from different leagues will better prepare them for the decisive tournament, benefiting the spectators with more exciting matches.
- Increased Viewership: More inter-regional tournaments will lead to a larger audience. Fans will have more opportunities to watch their favorite teams and players and discover new favorites.
Cons
- Ping Issues: MENA is part of the EMEA region, but due to ping issues, teams from this region will not participate in the first two Challengers EMEA tournaments. This could affect the overall fairness and integrity of the competition.
- Burnout: The increase in the number of tournaments could also have a negative effect, as players may suffer from burnout due to the intense workload, potentially leading to psychological issues and a reluctance to continue playing. Organizers will need to find a balance between the competitive season and rest.
Qualification for Ascension
Riot Games has announced changes to the points system required to qualify for the main tournament—Ascension. This tournament offers the main prize for any Challengers team—a slot in the VCT EMEA. As of this writing, the company has not provided detailed information about the new system, so we can only wait for future updates and official statements.
Pros
- Transparency and Fairness: The points system ensures a transparent selection process based on teams' achievements throughout the season. This helps avoid situations where a team that performed well all season fails at the last moment and misses out on qualification.
- Motivation for Teams: The new system will encourage teams to play their best in every match to avoid missing out on points at the end of the season.
Merging of Leagues
Starting in 2025, three Challengers leagues will merge into one. The top teams from the Italian and Portuguese leagues will join the four best teams from Challengers Spain: Rising. Two additional slots will be contested in qualifying tournaments. The goal of this decision is to create a stronger and more competitive league.
Pros
- Creation of a More Competitive League: Merging three countries into one league will raise the overall level of competition, benefiting all participants. Players from Italy and Portugal will have more opportunities to develop and improve their level of play.
- Strengthening the Portuguese and Italian Scenes: The best teams from Italy and Portugal will compete in a more competitive league, helping them to grow stronger and improve their gameplay.
Cons
- Increased Entry Barrier: Bringing in teams from Italy and Portugal will increase competition in the league, making it harder for amateur teams to break into the professional scene. They will need more effort and time to reach a professional level.
VRCs Remain
Riot Games has decided against making Premier the sole path to professional play in the EMEA region. While Premier will remain the main mode, VRC tournaments will continue next year, providing teams with opportunities to qualify for tournaments where Challengers league slots are at stake. This will allow teams to choose their own path to start their professional careers or use both paths simultaneously.
Pros
- More Opportunities for Teams: Continuing VRCs provides more opportunities for teams to compete and improve their skills. Players will gain more game experience and raise their level of play.
- Diversity of Tournaments: Continuing VRC tournaments will maintain tournament diversity, contributing to the growth of esports in the region. Teams will have the opportunity to participate in various competitions, making the competitive scene more dynamic and exciting.
Cons
- Confusion for Beginners: For newcomers, it may be difficult to navigate the entire system and understand where exactly to start to eventually reach the professional scene.
Introduction of a New Mechanism for Women
To support women in esports, Valorant will introduce a new "Express Lane Mechanic," allowing Game Changers teams to compete for a chance to enter the Challengers league without fear of missing out on Game Changers matches or tournaments (a series of tournaments where only women can participate).
Pros
- More Opportunities for Women in Esports: This mechanism will allow women to participate in more competitions with their teams, promoting their development and raising their level of play. This move shows that Riot Games is committed to continuing the growth of the women's scene.
- Supporting the Growth of the Game Changers Scene: This mechanism will contribute to the growth of the Game Changers scene, providing more opportunities for women players to compete at a high level. It will also increase viewer interest in both the women's tournaments and the Challengers, where they participate.
Cons
- Potential Organizational Challenges: The introduction of the new mechanism may create some organizational challenges, such as coordinating tournament schedules due to the increase in competitions from the start of the new season and ensuring equal conditions for all participants. Organizers must address these aspects and ensure effective coordination of competitions.
Conclusion
The changes to Challengers starting in 2025 aim to improve the leagues, providing more opportunities for players, increasing competition, and expanding the number of tournaments. This will make the scene more exciting for fans, increasing their numbers, which will positively impact the growth of sponsors and clubs willing to fund teams. Whether the scenario we’ve outlined will come true remains to be seen in the coming year.
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