Riot Games announces VALORANT Ignition Series

Today, Riot Games officially announced the Ignition Series. The Ignition Series is a tournament series run that features multiple tournaments hosted by the series’ partners. Riot Games partners with more than twenty esports organizations to create unique competitive events. The Ignition Series commences on June 19 with the European G2 Esports Invitationals, presented by Red Bull. RAGE VALORANT JAPAN Invitationals will also occur during the event series.

Each organizer will operate their competition in the tournament series. Succeeding in each tournament depends on the different stages that each organizer implements, like competitive open qualifiers, show matches, and invitationals with top players, established personalities, and aspiring amateurs.

Additionally, each tournament will be held in different places in the world, with events coming to North America, Brazil, Latin America, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Europe, Russia, Turkey, and the Middle East. After the two initial tournaments in Europe and Japan, Southeast Asia will be getting its event around July to mid-August.

Image via Riot Games.

Riot Games’ Partners Establish Esports Scene

Riot Games aims for the Ignition Series to cement the first attempt in VALORANT esports as a success for the new game. After a massive opening with an open beta, Riot Games seeks to imbue esports in VALORANT. But unlike other FPS esports titles, Riot Games lets third-party organizations take the wheel.

This approach is quite unusual when thinking about famous FPS esports scenes like CS:GO or Overwatch. Comparing other FPS esports titles, the sole game developers would take the initiative to do everything by themselves. Instead, Riot Games leaves the organization up to its partners.

However, with this being the first look into VALORANT esports and establishing the esports scene as a legitimate competitive field, it may worry fans about the tournament quality with each run in the Ignition Series.

To clarify the motives and support the decision, Whalen Rozelle, Senior Director of Esports at Riot Games, gave insight into why Riot Games’ first step into VALORANT esports starts with third-party organizers.

“We’re thrilled to pull together the best from gaming and esports to deliver a program that will showcase VALORANT on a global scale,” said Whalen Rozelle, Senior Director of Esports at Riot Games. “The Ignition Series will unlock the creative potential of some of our top partners and will help us build an esport from the ground up that is authentic to the VALORANT community.”

VALORANT Ignition Series

Overall, the Ignition Series shouts opportunity at a deafening level. The idea to bring in esports organizations to help establish, grow, and develop a new esport scene is new. If Riot Games is willing to take the risk, then it’s a worthy risk. Despite questioning the consistency of quality, VALORANT fans worldwide couldn’t be more excited. After a successful closed beta and public launch, Riot Games new step into FPS esports begins.