VALORANT: Riot to announce KOI’s replacement after Champions 2025

As rumors intensify about a potential return of Gentle Mates, possibly replacing KOI in the VCT EMEA, Daniel Ringland, Head of Esports for VALORANT, attempted to clarify the situation through a post on his X account. He revealed that nearly ten organizations are currently in contention to take over the Spanish team’s slot and emphasized that nothing has been finalized yet. He also confirmed that the name of the team joining the league will be officially announced in October, following the conclusion of Champions Paris 2025.

In his post, Ringland shed light on how the process surrounding this vacant slot is unfolding. He explained that the procedure began about a week ago, just a few days after KOI’s removal, and that it closely mirrors the original call for applications when the VCT EMEA was first created. Back then, Riot Games required interested organizations to meet a number of specific criteria to secure a place in the league. This process is now being repeated, but this time with only a single spot available.

Ringland even shared part of the evaluation framework, mentioning that Riot Games is “looking at factors such as competitive operations, fandom and community engagement, marketing capabilities, and overall operational readiness.” These are requirements that Gentle Mates, widely considered the favorite, appear to fulfill, which only fuels speculation. Among the other organizations reportedly in the running are teams currently competing in Ascension, as well as clubs that have not yet entered the VALORANT scene.

The strong rumors surrounding Gentle Mates also stem from the fact that the organization seems to have already begun its roster-building process. Even without certainty of securing the slot, starting its offseason planning right after Riot’s announcement is seen as almost essential. Waiting too long could prove disastrous for the project, as finding the right players and staff profiles would become far more difficult.