On Friday, during the final weekend of the Masters Toronto, Riot Games unveiled the next phase of the competitive VALORANT 2025 season. The roadmap, packed through to December, introduces a major new addition compared to previous years: Project Blender. Between Ascension tournaments leading to promotion into International Leagues, the Game Changers Championship in Seoul, and the VCT Partner Series, the end of the year promises to be interesting across all levels of the VALORANT esports scene.

Already announced for the EMEA region, the four Ascension tournaments are set to kick off almost simultaneously right after Champions Paris. As a reminder, these regional events will determine which Tier 2 teams will be promoted to the T1 leagues (VCT) in 2026. All tournaments will be held offline. Berlin will host the EMEA tournament from October 19 to 26, while São Paulo will welcome the Americas event from October 17 to 26. In Asia, the VCT Studios in Shanghai will host the Chinese qualifiers, and Bangkok will be the battleground for the Pacific region.

The Game Changers Championship will make its debut in South Korea, taking place in Seoul from November 20 to 30 at LoL Park, with the best teams from around the world. Following their back-to-back in GC EMEA, Karmine Corp are in a good position to take a spot in this world championship dedicated to women and marginalized genders.

More tournaments during the offseason with the VCT Partner Series

Meanwhile, the VCT Partner Series — formerly the VCT OFF//SEASON — will give teams the chance to compete after the main season ends. The current line-up includes Red Bull Home Ground, the SOOP VALORANT League Pacific (1–7 December), and the new Project Blender for the EMEA region. Scheduled to run from October to December, this tournament is notable for its open qualifiers, which are accessible to up to 1,024 teams. It gives amateur rosters a rare chance to compete against top-tier teams from across the region, with open access to all competitive levels, from Premier Mode to VCT EMEA and even Game Changers.

Red Bull Home Ground has also revealed new details, confirming that the finals will take place in New York City from November 13 to 16. Of the eight teams competing onsite, five have already been announced: T1 and Zeta Division will represent Asia, Fnatic will stand for Europe, and North America
will be represented by G2 Esports and Sentinels. The remaining three spots will be filled through a global qualifier, plus one final team receiving a direct invitation to the World Final.