Valorant Team Owner Criticizes VCT System After Spending $700K on Roster
The Struggle of Acend Club in Valorant Esports
Benjamin Rolle, CEO of Acend Club, recently voiced his frustration with the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) system, calling it a “disaster.” His organization spent $700,000 over two years on Valorant rosters, only to find the system increasingly difficult to navigate. According to Rolle, the second tier of the Valorant esports ecosystem worsened significantly when Riot Games introduced semi-closed leagues.
Challenges in the Tier 2 Valorant Ecosystem
Rolle stated, “Esports deserves better. Valorant deserves better. Maybe Riot’s focus is on T1. Maybe the higher-ups are unaware of what’s going on. Maybe things will change. But right now, it’s a disaster for orgs.” His comments highlight the struggles faced by organizations in the second tier, where competition is fierce, and the rewards are minimal.
Acend Club once shone brightly in the Valorant scene, winning the first Champions tournament in 2021. However, the organization announced its exit from Valorant esports on September 16, 2024, after two years of striving to secure a promotion spot into VCT EMEA. Despite their efforts, they were not invited to join the VCT partnered league system by Riot Games after the 2022 season. The organization continued to compete in Tier 2, hoping to earn their place in the EMEA competition.
Financial Strain and Competitive Pressure
The financial burden of competing in Tier 2 became evident as Acend fielded highly competitive rosters. The costs were staggering, with the 2023 team placing third at VCT Ascension EMEA and the 2024 team failing to qualify. Rolle explained, “Once we descended to T2, everything changed. That’s when the nightmare began. You see, fighting for just one slot across all of Europe isn’t just difficult – it’s ruthless, but potentially extremely rewarding… Teams, including ours, poured money, time, and heart into the competition, paying good salaries and making massive sacrifices.”
The European Tier 2 Wasteland
The CEO also highlighted issues within the European Tier 2 scene, describing it as a wasteland where tournament organizers often fail to pay winnings and payroll for production staff. This situation exacerbates the challenges for teams trying to sustain themselves in the lower tiers of Valorant esports.
Riot Games’ handling of the feeder system into its top esports leagues has been a contentious issue. Organizations find it hard to invest in players and rosters when the return on investment is uncertain or non-existent. The developer has little incentive to provide financial support, such as stipends or in-game cosmetic revenue, to organizations not in its top leagues. This creates a significant disconnect between the goals of the developer and the needs of the teams competing in the system.
Community and Industry Reactions
Despite these challenges, many players, executives like Rolle, and content creators continue to call out Riot Games for their management of the esports ecosystem. The dissatisfaction is widespread, with many feeling that the current system is unsustainable for organizations outside the top tier.
Valorant fans and professionals alike have expressed their frustration with the VCT system. Calls for change are growing louder as the community seeks a more equitable and sustainable structure for esports organizations at all levels.
Conclusion
The situation faced by Acend Club and other organizations in Tier 2 Valorant esports underscores the need for a reevaluation of the VCT system. As the esports industry evolves, it is crucial for developers like Riot Games to create environments where all teams have a fair chance to compete and thrive. Without significant changes, the future of many esports organizations remains uncertain, and the integrity of the competitive scene could be at risk.
