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What’s New with VCT 2025? Points System, Longer Schedule and More
VCT 2024 was a blast. The season saw the return of a fan-favorite team in Sentinels lift the first Masters trophy, had Pacific lift the region's first title and ended with an unexpected champion from China. The year also saw an unprecedented rise in the popularity of the relatively nascent esport, with its new region, VCT CN coming into its own toward the end of the year.
But, the year wasn’t without its fair share of criticism, from tournament scheduling to the championship point distribution, VCT 2024 was a major learning experience for Riot Games.
With 2025 in sight, VALORANT and Riot Games have announced the changes coming to VCT 2025. These changes include a longer schedule, increased games, stage resets, playoffs expansion and a new championship points distribution.
VCT 2025: Longer Schedule and Format Changes
A big criticism of the VCT 2024 was the shorter schedule and the limited number of matches. The schedule was especially tight with pros and viewers complaining about the packed regular season without breaks and longer off-seasons.
VCT 2025 aims to address these issues, with a longer schedule, better breaks, increased games. The changes coming with the new season are as follows:
- Longer Schedule: VCT 2025 now starts earlier than last season and ends later. The season starts January 11 with VCT CN Kickoff and ends with VALORANT Champions ending on October 5. Check out Strafe for detailed format and schedule of VCT 2025.
- Breaks between tournaments: The long schedule also features longer breaks between tournaments. There are atleast 15 days between each tournament, ensuring players get ample breaks between the tournaments.
- Stage Resets: During VCT 2024, the score of stage 1 carried over to stage 2 and multiple pros had problems with that. In 2025, the two stages will act as a qualifier for the playoffs. The points will carry forward, but the W-L records will not.
- Playoffs Expansions: The VCT 2025 Playoffs will feature 8 teams instead of six, enhancing the competition and increasing the amount of games played.
- New Championship Points System: VCT 2025 also introduces a new championship points system, with a better points distribution. The overall outline for the new system is as follows:
- Points for finishing in the top four of major tournaments.
- Two teams to qualify for VALORANT Champions based on points tally.
The New Championship Points System
The VCT 2024 introduced a points system to reward the teams that consistently performed on the international stage but did not account for the teams that performed well at the top of VALORANT Esports ecosystem.
The VCT 2025 overhaul continues to reward teams that consistently perform and rewards that make a deep run in the tournaments. The overhaul means teams now also get points for finishing in the top four of international tournaments, international league playoffs and kickoff tournaments.
The following graphic will help you understand the new championship points system of VCT 2025:
Additionally, instead of just one, now two teams qualify for the VALORANT Champions 2025 based on the points.
With these changes, VCT 2025 aims to be a much more refined and year-long experience for the fans and players alike. With 48 teams, three international leagues and adjustments made after considering the community feedback, VCT 2025 is shaping up to be an amazing season of VALORANT!
Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and our X account for the latest content and coverages. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
For more VALORANT rostermania news, check out our VCT EMEA and VCT Americas rostermania for all the latest shuffles.
Featured Image Credits: Riot Games
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