Riot Confirms Academy Teams and Updates for VALORANT Challengers 2025

Riot Games has unveiled comprehensive plans for the 2025 VALORANT Challengers season, introducing changes to the competition structure, Ascension format, and the integration of Academy teams for partnered organizations.

Key Updates

Extended Challengers CalendarThe 2025 Challengers season will begin in January, leading up to Ascension in October and concluding with additional tournaments in December. A third split has been added to:

• Reduce downtime.

• Increase the number of promotion opportunities.

• Ensure more year-round competitive action.

Ascension: Performance-Based RelegationChanges to Ascension formats now determine International League status based on performance:

• Extend: Teams finishing Top 4 at Champions retain their spot for another year. If both Ascension teams reach Champions, the better-performing team stays, while the other competes in Ascension.

• Fight: Teams finishing Top 8 earn a chance to defend their spot in Ascension.

• Relegate: Teams finishing in the Bottom 4 return to Challengers. If both Ascension teams are relegated, two new teams will be promoted.

Regional leagues will have the flexibility to adjust their Ascension formats as needed to meet these changes.

Premier IntegrationThe connection between Premier and Challengers continues to evolve:

• Teams will be promoted from Premier every two Acts, aligning with Challengers' extended seasons.

• Premier Invite Division remains the highest competitive tier and the pathway to Challenger Leagues.
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

Also, Bo “BoDork” Hoogland, MistGames' Social Media and Esports Strategy Manager, has clarified that Premier Zones Northern Europe and Eastern Europe now qualify for the same Challenger League: VALORANT Challengers NORTH//EAST.

Academy Teams

Academy teams have been introduced for 17 partnered organizations, providing a platform to develop new talent. While these teams are ineligible for Ascension, they will compete in their regional Challengers.

EMEA (3 Teams)

• Karmine Corp (Blue Stars)

• KOI

• Team Liquid

Americas (5 Teams)

• FURIA

• Leviatán

• Made in Brazil

• 2Game Esports

• Sentinels (Cubert Academy)

Pacific (9 Teams)

• DetonatioN FocusMe

• DRX

• Gen.G

• Global Esports

• Rex Regum Qeon

• T1

• Talon Esports

• Team Secret

• ZETA DIVISION

Riot’s updates aim to provide a seamless progression from Premier to Challengers, International Leagues, and Champions while strengthening talent pipelines through Academy programs.