Valorant and Esports: Market Impact and LGD's Prospects

Esports as an industry continues to grow rapidly, becoming an increasingly important part of the global gaming industry. Every year, new projects enter the scene that strive to win the hearts of millions of players and viewers. Among such games, Valorant, a first-person shooter released by Riot Games in 2020, has become a real phenomenon. Not only has it established itself as one of the leading esports disciplines, but it has also had a significant impact on the development of the esports market as a whole. In this article, we will look at how Valorant has changed the landscape of esports, what new opportunities it offers, and how teams like LGD Gaming can make the most of it.

How Valorant Changed the Esports Market?

At the time of Valorant’s release, the shooter market was already saturated: CS:GO and Overwatch occupied dominant positions. However, Riot Games managed to not just create another shooter, but to offer a unique symbiosis of classic elements from Counter-Strike and innovative mechanics of heroes reminiscent of Overwatch. This combination not only made the game interesting for a wide audience, but also secured its place in the esports ecosystem. Valorant’s key features, such as a variety of agents with unique abilities, strategic depth and accessibility for new players, made the game especially attractive to professional teams. Riot Games, having extensive experience in the development of League of Legends, approached the creation of the Valorant esports ecosystem with a clear focus on long-term success.

Valorant has become a major catalyst for change in esports, increasing competition in the shooter genre. While CS:GO has been the leader for decades, the emergence of Valorant has broken this monopoly. Many teams, including top CS:GO players, have switched to the new game, seeing prospects and opportunities in it. For example, organizations like Team Liquid and Sentinels began to actively invest in Valorant rosters, which attracted huge audiences to the game. This pushed the market to active growth: the number of tournaments, sponsorship contracts, and prize pools increased. Riot Games did everything to make Valorant as friendly as possible to new organizations. The game’s integration with Twitch, regular events, tournaments of varying difficulty levels – all this allowed amateur teams and beginners to participate in esports. Teams like LGD Gaming, who have traditionally focused on Dota 2 and other titles, have seen new horizons in Valorant. Riot Games has simplified the process of creating new esports rosters by providing players with convenient tools to find teams and participate in local tournaments. One of the key steps Riot Games took was the introduction of a franchise system in Valorant esports. This has created a sustainable model for esports organizations, helping them generate stable revenue. As part of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), teams participate in global leagues, ensuring a permanent audience and sponsors.

LGD Gaming is one of the most famous esports organizations, having established itself in disciplines such as Dota 2 and League of Legends. However, the emergence of Valorant has opened up completely new prospects for such teams. As Valorant grows in popularity, teams are able to reach new audience segments. In China, where LGD Gaming has significant influence, interest in Valorant is growing rapidly. This allows the organization to attract new fans, not only within its traditional disciplines. Valorant tournaments bring in significant prize pools, and the opportunity to work with large sponsors from various industries makes the game extremely attractive to organizations. Riot Games actively attracts partners, including brands such as Red Bull, Alienware and Mastercard, creating favorable conditions for teams. Creating a Valorant roster is much easier and cheaper than in some other disciplines. Riot Games actively supports young teams and provides conditions for the development of players. This makes Valorant an ideal discipline for organizations like LGD Gaming, who can minimize the risks when entering a new market. LGD Gaming is in a unique position to become a pioneer in the Chinese Valorant scene, which is just starting to develop. By investing resources in training facilities, creating academies and local tournaments, LGD can become a leader in the region, setting trends and standards for other organizations.

Teams that want to establish themselves in the Valorant ecosystem should:

Invest in the development of young players. Creating academies and supporting junior leagues will allow teams to attract talent at an early stage.
Adapt to global trends. It is important to monitor game updates, balance changes, and metagame trends.
Work actively with the media. A presence on Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms increases the chances of attracting sponsors and strengthening the fan base.