ACEND exit VALORANT esports citing ‘hostile’ ecosystem, lack of tier-2 support

Inaugural VALORANT Champions-winning organization ACEND Club is departing the esport ahead of the 2025 season, describing the shooter’s competitive ecosystem as “hostile” in an exit statement that has sent shockwaves through the community.

The European org announced its pro VALORANT departure on Sept. 16, citing the esport’s extended offseason, “tiny” prize pools, and overblown salary expectations of VCT players as reasons why the org cannot justify chasing a slot in Riot’s partnered league. “The increasingly hostile ecosystem has simply made it untenable to responsibly run a team.”

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