VALORANT unveils major changes for VCT 2025: Longer Season, New locations and more

VALORANT unveils major changes for VCT 2025: Longer Season, New locations and more

Ganesh Jadhav

21 Jul, 2024, 15:05

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Last updated: 9 Apr, 2025, 15:48

With VCT 2024 successfully concluding with the VALORANT Champions 2024 Grand Finals this weekend, Riot Games and VALORANT are already preparing for 2025.

With new locations, restructured leagues, a longer schedule addressing the criticism of 2024, VALORANT plans to make 2025 bigger and better.

But before that, let’s see what the rest of 2024 has in store for us.

VCT 2024 Off//Season:

Following the conclusion of Champions 2024, VALORANT immediately prepares for Ascension 2024. The tournament will give us four new teams that will join the International Leagues for the 2025 season.

The Game Changers Championship, scheduled for November, will then follow Ascension. Set to take place in the new Riot Games Arena in Berlin, the tournament will crown the best Game Changers team of 2024.

Finally, the OFF//SEASON will officially begin for all Tier 1 teams, with fan-favorite events such as Red Bull Home Ground, Ludwig X Tarik Invitational, Spike Nations and more returning for 2024.

VCT 2025: Longer Season (Finally)

The upcoming VCT will feature a longer VALORANT year as compared to 2024. The Challengers circuits around the world will kick off in October 2024 and the International Leagues start January 2025.

VCT 2025 Overall schedule

  • January 2025 - VCT Kickoff 2025
  • February 2025 - VCT Masters Bangkok
  • March - May 2025 - International League Stage 1
  • June 2025 - VCT Masters Toronto
  • July - August 2025 - International League Stage 2
  • October 2025 - VALORANT Champions Paris

Changes to come with VCT 2025

  • Longer season, January to October, with players breaks.
  • Championship points for every competition.
  • New Kickoff Format - 12 teams to play in a direct Double elimination bracket.
    • Top 2 from each league qualifies to Masters Bangkok.
  • Stage 1 records will not carry over to Stage 2.
    • Top 3 from Stage 1 Playoffs qualifies for Masters Toronto.
  • International League Playoffs will feature eight instead of six teams.
  • IL teams can create academy rosters to compete in Challengers (But they cannot compete in Ascensions)
  • A new structure with Promotion and Relegations.

These changes are aimed at creating a competitive environment and addressing the criticism of the 2024 season. VALORANT also aims to further refine their ‘Path to Pro’ initiative during the upcoming year.

More details regarding the new season will be announced in the upcoming days. Follow Valorant Champions Tour on X/Twitter for latest updates.

Stay tuned on Strafe as we bring you the latest updates on VCT 2025.

Featured Image Credits: 

Read More:

VALORANT Champions 2024 Finals Weekend: Teams, Fixtures, Preview and Prediction

VALORANT heads to Paris for Champions 2025

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