The highly anticipated Esports World Cup this summer will not feature VALORANT in its lineup due to scheduling conflicts, despite professional teams reportedly pushing Riot Games “hard” for the game’s inclusion.
According to James Fudge from Esports Advocate, VALORANT was “seriously being considered” for the Esports World Cup, but there is no flexibility in the schedule that would allow professional teams to compete at the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, running from July 4 to August 25.
Riot’s other titles, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics, will be featured at the event, with League during the first week and TFT during the sixth week.
Scheduling Conflicts: VCT 2024 Calendar
- First half of the event: Coincides with the last two regular season games and the crucial playoff bracket determining who goes to Champions.
- Second half of the event: Overlaps with Champions, with both events concluding on August 25.
With the current VCT schedule, there is no window for teams to also compete at the Esports World Cup. However, this could change as early as next year, as Riot Games has confirmed it will alter the VCT schedule for 2025, potentially allowing VALORANT teams to compete in next year’s Esports World Cup.
Criticisms and Controversies
- Contracts and Attitudes: Riot has signed a one-year contract with the Esports World Cup Foundation and is adopting a “wait-and-see” approach regarding the continuation of this partnership.
- Participation Criticism: Both Riot Games and organizations competing at the Esports World Cup have faced criticism for participating in an event subsidized by the Saudi Arabian government, given the country’s extensive human rights violations record.
- Previous Backlash: Years ago, Riot quickly canceled a partnership with the Saudi-backed NEOM project following significant public backlash.
Event Details and Features
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Dates: July 4 to August 25
- Riot Games Titles Present:
- League of Legends: First week
- Teamfight Tactics: Sixth week
Expectations and Future
- Future Adjustments: Riot has mentioned the possibility of adjusting the schedule in 2025 to allow VALORANT’s participation in future Esports World Cup events.
- VCT Importance: This period is the busiest and most important in the VCT 2024 calendar, making participation in the Esports World Cup impossible this year.
Conclusion
The absence of VALORANT from the Esports World Cup 2024 reflects the scheduling challenges and strategic decisions facing both event organizers and game developers in the expanding esports world. The esports community will be watching closely to see how Riot Games and the Esports World Cup Foundation handle these challenges in the future.
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