Riot Games and Esports World Cup foundation announce multi-year partnership
Riot Games, a leading force in the gaming and esports industry, has announced a major partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the organization behind the Esports World Cup (EWC).
The agreement will see three of Riot Games' flagship titles – League of Legends (LoL), VALORANT, and Teamfight Tactics (TFT) – integrated into the Esports World Cup competition lineup for the next three years. Beyond the addition of the three tournaments to the EWC, the partnership includes a comprehensive global commercial campaign featuring Riot Games' premier professional leagues across its three esports ecosystems.
Promotional activations for the Esports World Cup broadcasts will be incorporated into global LAN events for LoL Esports, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), and TFT, commencing with the VCT Masters event in Bangkok later this month. Last year, VALORANT was notably absent from the EWC due to scheduling conflicts with the VCT. In a press release, the EWCF confirmed that the VALORANT tournament at EWC will be separate from the existing VCT structure.
While LoL and TFT were featured in last year's Esports World Cup, VALORANT is the latest addition to the roster, bringing the total number of tournaments to 23, across 22 different game titles. The formats and prize pools for these three tournaments have not yet been announced.
Fabian Scheuermann, Head of Gaming at the Esports World Cup Foundation, commented: "Riot Games has shaped the cultural impact of competitive gaming, transforming esports into a global entertainment powerhouse."
"With League of Legends Worlds continuing to set new standards for immersive experiences, VALORANT's cultural collaborations, and Teamfight Tactics' community-focused events, Riot has been at the forefront of creating an ecosystem that transcends competition. By bringing these games to the Esports World Cup, we are not only celebrating high-level gameplay – together, we are expanding esports as a global entertainment movement, forging deeper connections with fans across the realms of gaming, music, and digital culture."
The collaboration between Riot Games and the Esports World Cup Foundation promises to deliver high-quality and engaging esports competitions while contributing to the further growth and development of the global esports industry. The multi-year agreement signals a significant commitment from both organizations to elevate the profile of competitive gaming and reach a broader audience.
