Riot Games, under the leadership of Korea Representative Cho Hyuk Jin, has announced that the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) achieved its best-ever performance in 2024, breaking records across all key metrics. With the addition of China (CN) League to the existing Pacific, Americas, and EMEA leagues, VCT has solidified its position as the most-watched esports league in the FPS genre. The four international leagues demonstrated significant growth in viewership and engagement. VCT Americas recorded a 53% increase in peak concurrent viewers (PCU), reaching 810,000. VCT Pacific, which includes South Korea, achieved a 24% rise with 481,000 PCU. VCT EMEA grew by 41% with 409,000 PCU, while the newly introduced VCT CN League debuted with an impressive 1.8 million PCU.
In 2024, Valorant hosted three international tournaments: Masters Madrid, Masters Shanghai, and the VALORANT Champions Seoul. These events captivated fans worldwide and delivered record-breaking performances. Masters Madrid, the year’s first international tournament, reached 3.1 million PCU, setting the stage for the season. Masters Shanghai broke attendance records as tickets sold out in just 22 seconds, with the finale featuring Gen.G, representing the Pacific region, securing a historic victory over Team Heretics in a full-set showdown at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The season culminated in VALORANT Champions Seoul, held in South Korea, the birthplace of esports. Sixteen of the world’s best teams competed at COEX Artium, with Edward Gaming (EDG) from the CN League claiming the championship. The event recorded 9.13 million PCU and attracted 44.38 million unique viewers, a fivefold increase compared to the 2023 Los Angeles event.
The financial success of VCT was equally significant. In-game VCT content generated $44.3 million in revenue, which was distributed among participating teams. Including financial support and prize money, a total of $78.4 million was allocated to 44 teams. Teams further benefited from sponsorships, merchandise sales, and fan membership programs, making VCT a self-sustaining esports ecosystem. Riot Games has confirmed plans for the 2025 VCT season, beginning with regional kickoff tournaments in January. The VCT Pacific League, featuring Korean teams Gen.G, DRX, T1, and Nongshim RedForce, starts on January 18. Winners and runners-up from the regional tournaments will advance to Masters Bangkok. Following this, the first stage of the international league playoffs will lead to Masters Toronto, with top teams competing. The second stage will conclude with the VALORANT Champions Paris in September and October, featuring 16 teams selected from league playoffs and championship points.
Leo Faria, Global Head of Valorant Esports, expressed gratitude to the community, saying, “We deeply appreciate the passion, time, and energy players have invested in Valorant Esports. As Valorant celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2025, we look forward to creating new stories and breaking more records together.”
Sayart / Jack Lee, wangjb77@gmail.com
