The New Circuit Cuts Deep Into Legacy Teams
Riot Games has officially reduced the number of partnered teams for the Valorant Champions Tour from ten to eight per region, a structural shift that leaves storied North American organization Cloud9 without guaranteed revenue status despite its history. The decision, confirmed by sources tracking the roster changes, marks a decisive end to an era where brand legacy alone secured a franchise slot.
Cloud9, Wolves, FC Barcelona, DRX, and FlyQuest are among the major names that have missed out on VCT partnership for 2027 and beyond. Riot Games shared more than $105 million with VCT partner teams in the 2025 season, a sum that now serves as a stark reminder of what is at stake for those left outside the guaranteed tier.
A Franchise Model Giving Way to Performance
The shift represents a fundamental change in how the circuit operates. Riot announced on April 8 that VCT would move to a tournament model in 2027 with a new two-year partnership cycle. Under this framework, partners receive direct seeding into later rounds of open qualifiers and entry into Kickoff, the season opener where they fill eight of twelve seats in the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific regions.
This structure prioritizes competitive results over brand history. Riot shared more than $105 million with VCT partner teams in the 2025 season, with partners receiving guaranteed annual base payments and performance bonuses. In the Americas region for 2027, the eight partner slots went to LOUD, Sentinels, KRÜ Esports, NRG, G2 Esports, LEVIATÁN, MIBR, and 100 Thieves.
For teams that miss the cut, the path forward changes significantly. Rejected teams must compete via Open Qualifiers for Cups and Masters. Teams that progress into VCT through Open Qualifiers will receive similar support packages as confirmed by Riot. This means Cloud9 faces a new reality where advancement is strictly about performance rather than past achievements.
History of an Organization Built on Expansion
Cloud9 was founded in May 2013 and incorporated into Cloud9 Esports, Inc. on September 6, 2016. The company was originally established as a professional League of Legends team by Jack and Paullie Etienne. Throughout its existence, the organization expanded rapidly, establishing eight divisions by 2014.
In 2018, Cloud9 won three international championships: the Rocket League Championship Series Season 6 World Championship, the 2018 Overwatch League Grand Finals, and the ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018. The company currently operates four franchised teams including Cloud9 Valorant of the VCT Americas, Cloud9 New York in the Call of Duty League, and Cloud9 Rainbow Six in the BLAST R6 North America League.
They previously operated the London Spitfire in the Overwatch League. They also operate or have operated non-franchised teams in Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, EA Sports FC, Fortnite, Halo, Hearthstone, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros., Teamfight Tactics, and World of Warcraft. Cloud9 has received US$78 million in total raised equity via venture capital funding and was ranked the world’s fifth-most valuable esports organization in mid-2022.
Financial Realities Behind the Selection
Riot has not disclosed the specific size of the 2027 base payment but figures for North America ranged from $600,000 to $5 million depending on results. Riot shared more than $105 million with VCT partner teams in the 2025 season, according to its year-end figures reported by Inven Global, and $86 million of that came from sales of esports digital items.
The money explains why teams wanted the slots. Pley.gg reported that Riot said on Oct. 15 that the Champions 2026 bundle had already contributed more than $50 million to participating teams, with Riot sharing 50% of net proceeds. Cloud9 expressed commitment to Open Qualifiers but was not selected as a partner team by Riot Games.
In the Americas region for 2027, the eight partner slots went to LOUD, Sentinels, KRÜ Esports, NRG, G2 Esports, LEVIATÁN, MIBR, and 100 Thieves. Several of the organizations left out said so themselves. In the Americas, Cloud9, ENVY, FlyQuest, LYON and M80 announced that they had not been selected, according to a tracker kept by The Esports Radar.
Global Esports and runners-up NS RedForce just competed at Valorant Champions 2026. Now, both have lost their partnership status, and India-based Global Esports has since announced it will shut down its esports operations. Meanwhile, Cloud9, Barça, NS RedForce, ENVY and DRX have all expressed commitment to Open Qualifiers.
And teams won’t be totally hung out to dry, as Riot has confirmed $100k+ support packages for VCT EMEA Open Qualifier teams. Presumably, teams that progress into VCT through Open Qualifiers in other regions will receive similar support. The cut was announced in advance, and the format around it is changing too.
Riot promises more than 50 tournaments across 15 cities, with Kickoff qualifiers starting in November. For the dropped organizations, the team capsule may be lost along with the financial safety net that defined the previous franchised era. The scene on the ground for these legacy teams is one of adaptation as they prepare to fight for their place in the circuit through open competition.
Regional Variations in Partner Selection
The reduction of partner slots applies across all regions, yet the specific outcomes vary significantly by geography. In EMEA, teams such as Team Heretics, BBL Esports, and Fnatic secured their positions alongside Team Vitality and Team Liquid. Meanwhile, organizations like Barça eSports, GIANTX, and Movistar KOI were not selected for the new cycle.
Pacific region selections include Paper Rex, T1, Gen.G, and FULL SENSE, while China announced EDward Gaming and JD Gaming among its eight partners. In the Americas, despite Cloud9’s status as a legacy organization, it joined others like ENVY and FlyQuest in missing out on guaranteed revenue. The Pacific region also saw Nongshim RedForce and KIWOOM DRX left without partner status.
Financial implications differ by market. Riot shared more than $105 million with VCT partner teams in the 2025 season, a figure that now defines the stakes for these regional selections. The shift to a tournament model means teams must compete via Open Qualifiers for Cups and Masters if they miss the cut.
Sources
- VCT Partnered Teams: Cloud9 and Global Esports Among Major Names To Miss Out
- Cloud9
- Riot Cuts VCT Partner Slots to 32 as Cloud9 and DRX Lose Their Seats
Photo: DJTechYT (CC BY-SA 4.0)
