Riot Games has released the financial results for its VALORANT esports scene, revealing significant growth in revenue generated from digital goods during the 2024 season. This marks a notable increase as Riot expands its influence and investment in competitive gaming.
Riot has been at the helm of VALORANT esports since its launch in 2020, managing everything much like it does with League of Legends. As we look ahead to the upcoming 2025 Champions Tour season, player engagement remains strong, evidenced by impressive spending on themed digital items.
Here comes the money
Riot announced that $44.3 million was shared among partnered teams competing in the VCT 2024, a substantial rise from $33 million in 2023. With 44 teams participating across four leagues last year, this averages around $1 million per team. Given that Riot retains half of this revenue from digital goods sales, player spending is estimated at approximately $88.6 million.
The primary sources of these funds stem from two main offerings: VCT partner team capsules and the annual Champions bundle. At the start of this year, Riot introduced VCT partner team capsules, each featuring unique skins and collectibles designed by individual teams. These were met with enthusiasm from both players and fans. Expect new capsules as we approach the start of next season.
Another highlight is the Champions bundle, which celebrates the world championship with exclusive weapon skins and accessories. Notably, for the first time this year, all partnered teams, not just those who qualified for the event, received a share of this revenue.
Riot claims to have distributed an impressive $78.4 million across all partnered teams, including stipends, prize pool winnings, and digital sales. The remarkable growth seen within VALORANT’s esports ecosystem highlights its appeal and raises concerns about sustainability moving forward. Will players continue their support through purchases? Only time will tell as we watch Riot evolve its offerings into future seasons. This development signals an exciting time for players and organizations involved, creating opportunities while fostering community connections around a game that keeps evolving.
