ACEND Club, the first-ever winners of the VALORANT Champions tournament, have officially announced their exit from the competitive scene, marking a significant moment in the game’s history.
The organization made this shocking announcement on September 16, 2024, citing the increasingly “hostile ecosystem” as the reason for their departure. This news has sent shockwaves through the community, with many wondering what this means for the future of tier two VALORANT and the overall health of the esport.
Why Did ACEND Leave Competitive VALORANT?
In a detailed exit statement, ACEND Club outlined several reasons behind their decision to pull out of competitive VALORANT:
- Extended offseason: The organization expressed concern over how the long breaks between official competitive seasons negatively impacted their ability to remain competitive and financially viable.
- Small prize pools: Despite being a prominent esport, the prize pools for tier two competitions (outside of the VALORANT Champions Tour, or VCT) were deemed insufficient by ACEND to sustain the organization.
- High player salary expectations: ACEND also pointed to the overinflated salaries expected by VCT players. This issue made it increasingly difficult for the org to responsibly manage its roster without risking financial instability.
The statement was blunt: “The increasingly hostile ecosystem has simply made it untenable to responsibly run a team.” The announcement reflected the organization’s disappointment with the current state of competitive VALORANT, particularly outside of the VCT.
A Storied Past: ACEND’s VALORANT Journey
ACEND made its debut in VALORANT in 2021, acquiring the Raise Your Edge roster. This team would go on to make history by claiming the first VALORANT Champions title, defeating Gambit Esports in the grand finals. However, despite this remarkable achievement, ACEND struggled to replicate their success in subsequent years.
After failing to secure a VALORANT partnership for the 2023 VCT season, the organization was left to compete in Riot’s Challenger ecosystem. Despite their best efforts, ACEND fell short of securing a spot in Ascension, the critical tournament that allows tier two teams to climb into the VCT.
The Fall of a Champion
By 2024, ACEND was struggling to stay afloat in the competitive scene, facing “alarming signs of decay” in its performances outside the VCT tier. With the increasing costs of maintaining a top-tier roster and the diminishing returns in tier two competition, the organization had no choice but to call it quits.
The Impact of ACEND’s Departure
The departure of ACEND highlights the challenges that many organizations face in maintaining a competitive VALORANT team, particularly when they are not part of Riot’s partnered league.
The VCT provides major advantages, including revenue-sharing opportunities through team bundles and access to larger prize pools. Teams that fall short of Ascension face a difficult decision: continue to pour resources into a second-tier ecosystem, or exit the scene altogether.
For ACEND, the costs simply outweighed the benefits. Despite their historic win in 2021, the org could not justify the increasing financial burden of competing in a system that seems to favor partnered organizations.
ACEND’s Departure in Numbers
- Champions Victory: ACEND won the 2021 VALORANT Champions tournament, defeating Gambit Esports in the final.
- Prize Pool Struggles: ACEND cited small prize pools in tier two competitions as one of the primary reasons for their departure.
- Partnership Denial: The organization was denied a VALORANT partnership for the 2023 VCT season, which was seen as a significant blow to their long-term viability.
What Does This Mean for Tier Two VALORANT?
ACEND’s exit raises concerns about the future of tier two VALORANT. Riot Games has made efforts to strengthen the connection between the VCT and tier two competition, introducing new systems for academy teams, player loans, and more. However, the departure of a major player like ACEND suggests that these efforts may not be enough.
Without access to the VCT, organizations face the tough reality of lower prize pools and fewer revenue opportunities. The ability to compete at the top level is becoming increasingly tied to securing a partnership slot in Riot’s top-tier league.
The Importance of Ascension
The Ascension tournament is now seen as a crucial stepping stone for tier two teams looking to make it to the VCT. Teams that succeed in Ascension are granted a coveted spot in the top-tier league, along with access to the prize pools and revenue-sharing opportunities that come with it.
However, the path to Ascension is anything but easy, and even top-tier organizations like ACEND have struggled to navigate this system.
Conclusion
The departure of ACEND Club from competitive VALORANT is a major moment in the game’s history. It raises important questions about the future of tier two teams and the challenges they face in an ecosystem that increasingly prioritizes VCT-partnered organizations.
Riot Games may need to rethink its approach to supporting tier two competition, especially as more organizations struggle to justify their continued participation.
For now, ACEND’s legacy as the first-ever VALORANT Champions will remain, but their absence from future seasons is a stark reminder of the fragile balance that exists in esports ecosystems.
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