EMEA region to host VALORANT’s first mixed-gender LAN and GC final

VALORANT EMEA fans have something new to look forward to this Fall as Riot Games announces two upcoming LAN events in the region. The Game Changers Stage Three Finals and the newly introduced mixed-gender tournament will feature live competitions, finally giving fans what they’ve been asking for years.

The VALORANT Game Changers EMEA Stage Three Finals will be held in front of a live audience for the first time, offering fans the chance to watch their favorite teams compete in person after years of online competition—but that’s not all. The event will take place on Oct. 6 at the ESA Arena in İstanbul, Türkiye, which offers more than double the 2021 GC Championship Finals seating capacity. 

While the 650 seats of the ESA Arena might still not be what the fans hoped for, it still addresses previous criticisms regarding the size of past venues—including the 2023 VALORANT Game Changers Championship in Brazil, where both fans and players voiced concerns about the small scale of the event.

Head of VALORANT esports EMEA, Daniel Ringland, commented on the announcement, highlighting the importance of bringing the Game Changers series to a live audience and introducing a mixed-gender tournament in the ecosystem. He emphasized that these events aim to “create new opportunities for women” within the VALORANT ecosystem and expressed hope that they will contribute to a future where all players compete “side by side at the highest level.”

To reach that goal, Riot announced the arrival of a new mixed-gender tournament this OFF//SEASON, which will require teams to field at least two Game Changer players in their competing roster. The new Spotlight Series will kick off shortly after the Stage Three Finals with an online format but will conclude at the Paris Games Week on Oct. 24 with another LAN event. 

Paris Games Week, one of the largest gaming events in the EMEA region, will host the grand final of the Spotlight Series on its main stage, Riot confirmed, accommodating up to 2.000 spectators. This invitational event will feature 14 VCT and Challengers teams competing for a 30.000 Euro prize pool.

While the 2024 VCT Champions still hasn’t reached its peak, VALORANT fans can already look forward to seeing these next events in person or at home via live stream.