By Sagar V. Mankar 
Riot Games has confirmed that Valorant Game Changers will not be included in the upcoming Esports World Cup scheduled for July 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While discussions are ongoing about the inclusion of other Riot titles like League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant, no final agreements have been reached yet, according to The Esports Advocate (TEA).
This clarification follows a report by ReaderGrev writer Mikhail Klimentov, who cited an internal Esports World Cup document claiming that League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, Valorant, and Valorant Game Changers were all part of the planned lineup. The document reportedly described this lineup as nearly confirmed. However, Riot’s representative refuted this claim, emphasizing that negotiations are still in progress for the participation of the mentioned titles.
Importantly, Riot has firmly stated that Game Changers is “100% off the table.” The Game Changers program, launched in 2021, was designed to create competitive opportunities for women and marginalized genders within the Valorant ecosystem. Its exclusion is significant given the ongoing concerns in Western countries about associating such diversity-focused initiatives with Saudi Arabian government-backed events.
While Riot maintains a cautious stance, other game publishers have been more open to supporting diversity and inclusion-focused tournaments in Saudi Arabia. Mobile Legends Bang Bang hosted the only women’s competition in 2024, where Smart Omega Empress (OMGE), a Filipino team, won the championship.
Last year Riot Games‘ other titles Teamfight Tactics and League of Legends were part of the event.
As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen which Riot titles will officially join the 2025 Esports World Cup lineup. Currently, 18 titles have already joined the edition, with more expected as organizers hope to add at least 25 titles this time.
Source: The Esports Advocate