inari

Perspective from a CEO spending $700,000 on our Valorant Team in 2 years to compete in T2: What would you do if after pouring $700,000 into a dream, you found out it was never built to last? (if you are an esports fan, player or somehow involved in esports, I appreciate a like and retweet for awareness) That’s exactly the reality we faced as we sought to compete in Tier 2 Valorant. When Riot reduced the 2 - year franchise slot to just one year, it felt like a slap in the face. That’s when we began to reconsider our place in the game. We weren’t alone - others felt it too. After winning champs in 2021, we were invited to apply for the VCT Franchise. It felt like everything was coming together. We even secured a final 20 spot and flew to Berlin to pitch our plans in front of the decision-makers. But we didn’t make the cut. Surprisingly, we weren’t too upset. Why? Well, the competing orgs had a lot more experience, a bigger fanbase, and significantly larger budgets. Let me be clear: our impression of the Riot staff was excellent. They were professional, passionate, diligent, and extremely friendly. But 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. We knew we could make it and we came damn close in year one of competing in T2 by finishing #3 in Ascension. Teams, including ours, poured money, time, and heart into the competition, paying good salaries and making massive sacrifices. Let’s be honest: T2 Valorant has only existed for two reasons: - Players grinding to make their way up. - Orgs like ours investing in those players, hoping to compete for that elusive slot. Without the franchise system as a goal, would T2 even exist? I don’t think so. What happened to the T2 scene? Is Riot understaffed? Do they not care? Or are the wrong people in charge? Any of these possibilities would spell disaster for building a sustainable T2 ecosystem. And trust me, it wouldn’t take much to fix, definitely not a lot of money. We’ll be diving deeper into this mess in our next podcast episode with @KrimsonAer and @ElevatedSpeaks , discussing the changes needed for a better T2 ecosystem. Stay tuned. As for us? Competitive Valorant is a closed chapter for now. The mismanagement of tournaments, broadcasts that don't appeal to the majority, low viewership, prize money delays (even casters waiting for their 2023 payments!), a lack of communication, and the cancellation of Split 3 tournaments. It all got worse. If we ever return, it’ll either be in a massively profitable situation (finding a low - budget team with a lot of potential) or in a more sustainable ecosystem. But the harsh reality is, T2 Valorant has been a slap in the face, not just for orgs like ours, but for the players too. They sacrifice their time and lives chasing the dream of going pro, while countless people behind the scenes, coaches, management, editors, designers, work tirelessly for the same goal. And let’s be real, they aren’t getting rich from it; for most, it’s pure passion. At times, it feels like we are being exploited. Too many people work in this industry for “an apple and an egg” (a German saying .. you get the point). Yet, for many, working in esports is the dream. That said, I’ve also seen the opposite. People in critical roles being massively overpaid while delivering incompetence that ruins the progress for everyone. 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. It's an even worse system for the players. We can pivot to other games or opportunities. But the pro players? They’re stuck. They’ve dedicated years to mastering this game, and learning another from scratch could take years more. They’re the ones being hit hardest. I truly feel for the countless unsigned T2 teams and players who deserve to make a living in this space. Whether you're an org owner, an esports worker, or a player unsure of your next step - join our Discord. Let’s continue the conversation, reach out if you want to chat, need help, have ideas. Maybe together, we can find a way forward. You're not alone. Stay strong, Ben