Riot Games has revealed that VCT teams will receive over $100 million to support the sustainability of the competitive ecosystem.
In 2026, Riot Games will distribute over $100 million to VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) teams, with the majority of the funding coming from esports in-game items such as skins. This initiative aims to reinforce long-term investment and sustainability within the esports ecosystem.
VCT teams will get over $100 million in 2026
The players are a crucial part of the system, as their purchases in-game can actually change a team's future in the following year. In 2025, Riot Games received over $86 million from esports digital goods. These include the team bundles, season capsules, and the Champions collection. In 2026, more than $100 million will be distributed to the VCT teams.
In 2025, VALORANT set new viewership records for its Masters events and achieved record engagement through new digital experiences, including Pick’Ems, Shotcall, and the redesigned broadcast HUD.
"2025 was a defining year for VALORANT esports," said Leo Faria, global head of VALORANT Esports. "We saw incredible competition, unforgettable stories, and record-breaking engagement from players and fans around the world."
For Leo Faria, everything was possible due to the community's efforts. "Our community continues to elevate this sport, and their passion fuels one of the healthiest ecosystems in esports. With new pathways for aspiring teams and more global live events in 2026, we're entering an exciting new era for the VCT," he added.
A sustainable path to VALORANT esports
For Riot Games, this historic milestone cements VALORANT as "one of the world’s healthiest and most sustainable esports ecosystems." They revealed that 2025 was one of the most successful years of the scenario.
Masters Bangkok and Masters Toronto became the most-watched Masters events in VCT history. As for the VALORANT Champions Paris, it "delivered a cultural milestone through an ambitious opening ceremony, the VCT’s first collaboration with Fragment, and an unforgettable five-map grand final that crowned NRG as the 2025 VALORANT World Champions."
The Pick'Ems reached a record participation with over 2 million players participating in the Game Changers tournament. Additionally, the Shotcall debut generated millions of live predictions during global events. The newly redesigned HUD modernized the viewing experience with "clear visual cues and contributing to all-time highs in watch-time and broadcast interaction" as well.
The 2026 season is set to deliver even more action, as new teams, fresh rosters, and brand-new tournaments take center stage.
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