It’s unattainable to not evaluate Valorant and Counter-Strike with regards to esports and, whereas each video games are immensely profitable and nice for their very own causes, CS2 has an enormous leg up on Valorant in a single key space: The way in which their professional scenes are structured.
Valorant’s professional scene has a franchised construction with Ascension slots that, as soon as per 12 months, permit a workforce from tier 2 to maneuver up and hold their spot for as much as 2 years. 10 franchised groups with 2 Ascension slots whole a 12 workforce league.Article continues after advert
On the floor, making a franchise league looks like a good way to create a sustainable esport. And it’s! For the groups which might be in it, in any case.
Franchising ensures that you just’ll see the identical groups at most esports occasions, that these groups can construct a fandom. A workforce like Sentinels will at all times have followers no matter how they carry out, so having a workforce like them within the circuit is a large boon for viewership. This construction is an extremely protected choice.Article continues after adArticle continues after advert
Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video games
However G2’s workforce Ascended from Challengers (kind of), bringing collectively gamers who couldn’t discover a spot they match inside current VCT groups which have come collectively to make a world-class roster. It’s a terrific story, and a roster that ought to be caught in tier 2.
Makes you surprise what number of groups like which might be caught in T2 that by no means get the possibility to shine, what number of groups down there which have gamers who might be higher than those which might be at present in VCT.Article continues after advert
A franchise construction helps (and hurts) Valorant esports
There’s nothing higher than a very good underdog run. A workforce that’s anticipated to lose, that has a lot much less funding or much less skilled gamers that the competitors, is difficult to not root for.
Whereas this could occur in a franchised construction if a workforce that traditionally performs poorly spends large or scouts a younger prodigy to hold them, groups must be keen to spend to remain aggressive. However you recognize what actually lights a fireplace below groups and encourages them to do higher? Relegation.Article continues after adArticle continues after advert
That is the place Counter-Strike 2’s scene handily beats Valorant’s. Nobody is protected. It doesn’t matter when you’re Staff Vitality scorching off an IEM Katowice win, if they’ve a sequence of unhealthy performances, the org’s dynasty means nothing. Groups normally must earn their spots on stage with efficiency, not status. Astralis successful a number of Majors up to now hasn’t saved them from repeatedly dropping out of qualification now.
Once more, that is a part of why Riot’s franchise construction is so good for the groups inside it. Even when an org picked to characterize Valorant has an off break up, they’ll signal a “funds” roster and hold their spot. Riot does reserve the precise in addition groups from the VCT as they see match, however it’s uncommon.Article continues after advert
Attempting to construct a CS2 workforce is way riskier, one thing that’s made clear by an enormous esports org like Cloud9 exiting the esport after failing to construct a terrific roster. Article continues after advert
Thanks @Sweetypotz_C9 & Groove for representing Cloud9.With their departures, C9 is taking a step again from Counter-Strike 2. Whereas we have now no rapid plans to re-enter, we love CS and are at all times looking out for alternatives. pic.twitter.com/gL8kb0pnSO— Cloud9 CS (@C9CSGO) February 14, 2025
That is partially as a result of Counter-Strike’s participant salaries are closely inflated, but additionally as a result of it’s exhausting to stay round you probably have a workforce that may’t carry out. Even an org like C9 doesn’t have deep sufficient pockets to take losses like that.Article continues after advert
Valorant’s construction is certainly extra sustainable and advantages groups that may get into it, however it loses the true spirit of esports: Placing collectively a workforce of nice gamers and proving you’re the most effective.
And there’s a rising workforce in Counter-Strike with a narrative that’d be nearly unattainable to drag off in Valorant’s present ecosystem.
Valorant misses out on the most effective factor about esports
The way in which that Ascension is structured at present, solely two groups can Ascend to VCT leagues directly. Presently, G2 is protected for 2025 and sure 2026. Their placement at this Masters occasion nearly ensures them for Champions on the finish of 2025.Article continues after advert
Let’s say, hypothetically, that 2GAME finally ends up additionally making it to Champions on the finish of the 12 months. Even when these two groups are by far the most effective rosters within the area, one in every of them shall be relegated. And, if both workforce had been to get relegated within the case that they’re prime 2, it’d be a catastrophe.Article continues after advert
Both the relegated workforce’s present roster goes by means of the Challenger’s league figuring out they’re possible going to win, or the roster will get torn aside and acquired out by franchised VCT groups, hurting fandom for gamers and the org as an entire. Article continues after advert
What’s extra, there solely being one Ascension slot per 12 months incentivizes orgs who aren’t already within the VCT to spend large and get the most effective gamers they’ll, with each one in every of them risking an enormous monetary loss in the event that they don’t qualify.
M80 is a good instance of an org that’s been on the cusp however has simply narrowly missed qualification, spending large on a roster and faceplanting within the finals. Twice. Article continues after advert
Our VCT Ascension run ends right here.Thanks for the numerous hours, dedication, and energy that was put in by our superb gamers and training workers for the M80 VALORANT program. Thanks to all of the followers to your help all through your entire season and for at all times displaying love.… pic.twitter.com/WwWAeYAyc1— M80 (@M80gg) September 21, 2024
Not solely is that this a disgrace for M80 who clearly desires to achieve the scene and is keen to fork over the capital to do it, but additionally groups that must compete in opposition to them. It might be argued that there are a number of tier 2 groups which might be higher than present VCT rosters with how aggressive that single slot is.Article continues after advert
This usually retains newer groups from having the possibility to play stage video games in opposition to the most effective groups on the earth. What number of G2s are there on the market that simply can’t match into that one Ascension slot? What number of nice groups have crumbled due to that franchise barrier, particularly when G2 itself is made up of VCT veterans?Article continues after advert
There’s one Counter-Strike 2 workforce at present that embodies simply how essential getting expertise on stage and giving rookies time to chop their enamel can imply: The MongolZ.
Regardless of being a considerably lackluster org for more often than not they’ve existed, this workforce has turned up the warmth over the previous 2 years, to the purpose the place they’ve three youngsters which might be beating the gods of Counter-Strike, gamers price tens of millions. Only a bunch of younger Mongolian gamers placing every little thing on the road to flip the script on the longest standing dynasties in CS.Article continues after adArticle continues after advert
The MongolZ, probably the greatest Counter-Strike 2 groups on the earth, have formally been made nationwide athletes of MongoliaMongolia’s authorities now pays them to play Counter-Strike pic.twitter.com/xEnre9EFiU— Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 1, 2025
This workforce is so profitable that they’ve been acknowledged as nationwide athletes by their authorities, with Mongolia backing the gamers and supporting them to try to develop the nation’s presence in esports.
There’s completely no likelihood a franchised workforce picks up a roster like what The MongolZ have. Such a storyline is subsequent to unattainable in Valorant, and underdog runs like this are the best possible factor that may occur in established esports.Article continues after advert
What would it not be like if each org needed to strive? If everybody needed to earn their spot, put every little thing on the road or threat being irrelevant? It’s exhausting to think about that, if each workforce needed to strive as exhausting as G2 to construct a successful roster, the esport wouldn’t be all the higher for it.
That isn’t to say that Valorant is a nasty esport, removed from it. The ultimate between G2 and T1 at VCT Masters Bangkok 2025 was a spectacle, one thing I’m positive even Counter-Strike followers might recognize. Each groups had been useless even by way of ability within the backwards and forwards remaining. Article continues after adArticle continues after advert
It’d be nice to see a degree of competitors like that in Valorant on a regular basis somewhat than a considerably lackluster common season that brings fleeting curiosity whereas followers anticipate the few large internationals the 12 months’s circuit brings.
At this level, there’s no likelihood that Valorant will ditch the franchise system. For the orgs that discover their place in it, it’s a terrific deal, and the orgs which have earned their approach in are unlikely to surrender the spots they’ve. Article continues after advert
Valorant could also be a more healthy esport than CS by way of sustainability for groups who’re already inside the tier 1 ecosystem, however the sport’s storylines are additionally a hell of rather a lot much less enjoyable due to it.
