Riot Games Backtracks On VCT Game Changers Stance To Make It All-Women

Riot Games has performed a sharp U-turn manoeuvre on its stance to include men in the all-female VALORANT Champions Tour: Game Changers Series in EMEA.

Originally, Riot Games communicated that the second series of the Game Changers series was to be mixed-gender, allowing teams that contain both men and women to compete in one place, despite seeing the success of the first series in which TENSTAR Nova became the first team to conquer the region.

Although they communicated the ruleset when the series was first announced back in early September, Riot Games received a whirlwind of backlash when they reiterated that the second iteration will be mixed gender, rather than all-women, with a range of professionals calling for a reversal.

Many female pros, including Guild X's newest star Sophia "Kim" Benfakir, claimed that "y'all know it's going to be male pro player plus three pro females", inferring that some males could use the opportunity to make some quick cash, with the gender skill gap still being evident.

However, Riot Games has now played their Uno reverse card, and backtracked on their stance.

Taking to social media Riot Games revealed that it is "too soon" to integrate the genders into a mixed event, and will extend the women-only format to the second series.

They continued to say, "our goal of creating a diverse VALORANT ecosystem remains unchanged. We still believe in the ALL IN concept and plan to revisit it in the future."

Following the announcement, Guild X's Kim applauded their decision. The 28-year-old French native said, "I reaaaally appreciate this and I know how hard it must have been for you to hear some of people messages, but at least know that a lot of others are thankful to have you!"

The format will now replicate the first series, with TENSTAR aiming to mirror the success of Cloud9 White in North America, and cement an early dynasty in the region.