Riot Games will host an international LAN for its Game Changers tournament program in 2022, barring any COVID-19 pandemic-related issues. The event will be the first LAN for the female and non-binary-centered series, and it will include North America, Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. More details are to come later, according to Riot Games.
“In 2022, we’re going to double down on our efforts by launching a new global tournament that will feature the best teams from Game Changers programs around the world,” Riot Games Head of Esports Operations Whalen Rozelle said. “This event will bring the best teams together into a single, massive competition for the first time. We’re thrilled to take this next step to grow VALORANT into the social experience our players deserve.”
Game Changers grows in 2022
After being created as a safe place for female and non-binary professional players to develop, Game Changers has been a success in 2021. Major organizations, including Cloud9 and G2 Esports, have signed all-female rosters in order to compete. Players from all over North America have praised Riot for how they’ve supported Game Changers over its first season. The main complaint players shared was the lack of in-person play. That will change in 2022.
“Seeing this number of teams signed to pretty large organizations within VALORANT is so amazing,” Digintas Female IGL Emmalee “EMUHLEET” Garrido said about how Riot has supported Game Changers. “That’s something we’ve been wanting and striving for for so long.”
Riot Games has operated more than 40 tournaments through the Game Changers program and saw more than 30 professional teams sign women’s rosters to compete in VALORANT during the 2021 season. Game Changers has evidently grown over the course of 2021, although Cloud9 White are still the top team in the scene. The squad has won all major North American Game Changer competitions.
