Dapr Voices Concerns Over VALORANT’s Tier Two Scene Amid Franchising Shift

In the ever-evolving landscape of esports, franchising has become a central topic of discussion, particularly in the world of VALORANT.

Oxygen’s Michael “dapr” Gulino recently voiced his concerns over the impact of franchising on the game’s tier two scene, a sentiment that resonates with many in the community.

Dapr, who transitioned from Counter-Strike to VALORANT, pointed out the irony of leaving a game due to a declining tier two scene, only to find himself in a similar situation in VALORANT. His tweet on December 20th was a candid reflection on the state of the tier two scene, suggesting that the signs of its decline were apparent following the announcement of the VCT’s partnership program.

The situation has become more pronounced with several promising tier-two teams, such as OR Esports and Disguised (Game Changers), disbanding their professional rosters post-VCT 2023 season.

These announcements, shared on X (formerly Twitter), underscore the challenges facing players in finding new opportunities, especially with the next season looming on the horizon.

Dapr’s team, however, stands as one of the top contenders in North America’s tier two bracket, set to participate in the Challengers 2024 season starting in late January. This highlights a stark contrast within the tier two scene, where some teams continue to strive for success while others struggle to survive.

Riot Games has been proactive in its efforts to support the growth of VALORANT esports at all levels.

Initiatives like the Challengers season and the regional Ascension tournament are designed to offer a pathway to the partnered leagues for winning teams. The upcoming Challengers 2024 season aims to further integrate tier two teams with the top-tier scene through new policies like affiliate partnerships, two-way players, and player loans.

Despite these efforts, the sentiment among players like Dapr suggests that these measures may not be sufficient to maintain the vibrancy of the tier two VALORANT scene as it was before the advent of franchising. With prominent organizations like Luminosity, OpTiC, XSET, and The Guard either quitting or distancing themselves from the scene, the responsibility increasingly falls on partnered organizations to build bridges with Challengers and Game Changers teams, fostering talent development.

As the VALORANT ecosystem continues to adapt to the changing dynamics of franchising, the focus on sustaining a healthy and competitive tier two scene remains a crucial aspect for the future of the game’s esports ambitions.

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