“The format proposed by Riot does not include pro organizations:” The Union slates Valorant Challengers following exit

Another prominent organization has exited the competitive Valorant landscape following Riot Games’ revised Challengers system framework distributed to participating teams. This marks a significant development in the ongoing tension between esports organizations and game developers regarding sustainable competitive structures.

The Union, having secured back-to-back championship titles in Brazil’s Challengers circuit, has officially withdrawn from professional Valorant competition and benched their competitive roster. Despite their competitive success, the organization faced relegation to Challengers after failing to qualify for the prestigious VCT Americas partnered league, creating an unsustainable competitive pathway.

However, The Union delivered scathing criticism of Riot’s proposed competitive framework. While specific details remain undisclosed publicly, the organization contends the system disadvantages professional entities and suggests the erosion of tier-two competitive scenes aligns with Riot’s strategic direction.

The Union paints a grim picture for the tier-two Valorant circuit next year

“From our perspective, the systematic dismantling of Valorant’s national competitive landscape—specifically the Tier 2 ecosystem preceding VCT Americas—was intentionally designed into the developer’s roadmap,” the organization stated in Portuguese, later translated to English.

The organization leveled substantial criticism at Riot Games for failing to establish a viable long-term framework for organizations operating within the Challengers circuit for the upcoming competitive season.

“The competitive format Riot has outlined for 2024 fundamentally excludes professional organizations,” The Union declared in their official statement. “It fails to accommodate companies and competitors who derive their livelihood from professional gaming while pursuing their careers; it neglects professional athletes and the infrastructure they require to achieve competitive mastery.”

The organization characterizes their Valorant exit as “contrary to their competitive intentions” given their demonstrated success within the Challengers competitive environment.

The Challengers competitive circuit across global regions theoretically provides teams with qualification pathways to partnered leagues, representing the pinnacle of Valorant esports competition.

However, the broader Valorant community has consistently voiced concerns regarding severely limited competitive opportunities for the majority of Challengers participants, with seasons concluding no later than July each competitive year.

Teams that failed to advance to the Ascension tournament qualification stages experienced particularly abrupt season terminations as early as June, creating substantial competitive and financial instability.

This situation mirrors challenges faced in other competitive gaming titles where organizations must carefully evaluate their strategic positioning. Similar to how teams approach competitive strategy development in evolving games, Valorant organizations now face similar strategic crossroads regarding resource allocation and competitive viability assessments.

Professional esports organizations operating in evolving competitive landscapes must develop sophisticated evaluation frameworks to assess long-term viability. Key considerations include revenue stream diversification, sponsorship alignment with competitive schedules, and player development pipeline sustainability.

The current Valorant competitive structure creates particular challenges for organizations that, much like teams mastering progressive weapon systems in other titles, require consistent competitive engagement to maintain roster skill levels and organizational relevance.

Organizations facing similar decisions should conduct comprehensive cost-benefit analyses, evaluate alternative competitive titles with more stable ecosystems, and consider hybrid approaches that balance competitive aspirations with financial realities. Understanding specialized role optimization principles from other games can inform these strategic evaluations.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » “The format proposed by Riot does not include pro organizations:” The Union slates Valorant Challengers following exit Brazilian esports organization The Union exits Valorant citing Riot's Challengers system restructuring concerns and lack of organizational support