eSports
VALORANT Game Changers EMEA Updates: Stage 3 Finals Venue and New Mixed Tournament Revealed!

2024 has been a great year for VALORANT Game Changers EMEA so far, with Stage 1 concluding in March, and Stage 2 in June – both of which saw G2 Gozen defeat Team Falcons Vega 3-0 in the Grand Finals! Our goal is for the best Game Changers players to find success in other parts of the VCT ecosystem, and we are starting to see some great progress, with G2 Gozen having recently competed in the Challengers DACH promotion/relegation tournament.
Stage 3 is set to begin in September, and will decide whether G2 Gozen claims all three Stages this year, or if another Game Changers EMEA team can dethrone them.
Ahead of the start of Stage 3, we wanted to share a couple of special announcements with you all.
VALORANT Game Changers EMEA: Stage 3 – Grand Finals Location, Format & Where to Watch
We’re super excited to announce that for the first time ever, we’re taking Game Changers EMEA on the road!
On Sunday, October 6, we’re hosting the Stage 3 Grand Finals at the ESA Arena in İstanbul, Türkiye. The ESA Arena will offer visiting fans an excellent viewing experience and an unmatched atmosphere, as we witness all of the action unfold and confirm all of our EMEA representatives for the VALORANT Champions Tour 2024: Game Changers Championship.
As a reminder, the top four teams from the two groups will qualify for the Playoffs, which consists of a double elimination bracket and will all be played online, aside from the Grand Final itself. The Upper Bracket contains three rounds of play to reach the Grand Final, while the Lower Bracket consists of four.
The Upper Bracket Final is a best-of-three (BO3), while the Lower Bracket Final is best-of-five (BO5). The Grand Final will also be BO5.
For those joining us from home, the first two days (September 23 and 24) of Stage 3 Playoffs will be available on twitch.tv/dive_gg. All games from September 25, including the Grand Finals (October 6) will be available to watch on twitch.tv/VALORANT_EMEA
Full ticket information will be shared at a later date – be sure to follow our socials to stay up to date.
VALORANT Game Changers EMEA: VCT OFF//SEASON Spotlight Series – Overview, Grand Finals Location & Format
Alongside this announcement, we are happy to introduce a new tournament – the VCT OFF//SEASON Spotlight Series – a mixed gender tournament that will take place online from Thursday, October 10 to Wednesday, October 16, before concluding at Paris Games Week on Thursday, October 24!
As one of the largest gaming events in Europe, Paris Games Week has been a major event for gaming fans since 2010. The Grand Final will take place on the largest stage, The Main Stage, with capacity for 2000 spectators.
This will be an invitational event, with 14 VCT and Challengers teams who have been actively investing in Game Changers asked to join the competition. Teams will be required to have at least two Game Changers players on their mixed teams, with the choice left to teams on whether to be majority men or women. Teams will also compete for a €30,000 prize pool!
Playoffs will feature a double elimination bracket. Seeding will be decided by previous results, with the top two receiving a first-round bye, whilst the remaining twelve teams compete. From here, teams will continue to compete through the Upper and Lower Bracket, with the Upper Bracket consisting of four rounds of play and the Lower Bracket consisting of six.
“We are extremely excited to bring VALORANT Game Changers on the road for the first time and to introduce a mixed gender tournament to the 2024 VALORANT Esports calendar at Paris Games Week”, said Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports EMEA. “Our ambition with Game Changers is to create new opportunities for women in our ecosystem, and we hope these events will help us accelerate towards a future where all players are competing side by side at the highest level.”
Further information on invited teams will be shared closer to the start of the event – follow our socials for future updates!
The post VALORANT Game Changers EMEA Updates: Stage 3 Finals Venue and New Mixed Tournament Revealed! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
PandaScore and Playbook Engineering join forces

Pioneering esports odds, data and betting products provider now available to operators powered by leading platform supplier with the integration facilitated by Sporting Solutions
PandaScore, the award-winning provider of esports odds, data and betting products, has integrated its suite of solutions with Playbook Engineering, the global sportsbook platform provider.
The partnership has been facilitated by Sporting Solutions, which has strategic partnerships with both PandaScore and Playbook Engineering.
Playbook Engineering has established itself as a leading sportsbook platform provider, supporting brands such as Star Sports, AK Bets, Priced Up, Bet Wright, Gentleman Jim, and Dragon Bet.
Following the integration, online sportsbooks powered by Playbook Engineering can access PandaScore’s Odds feed allowing them to offer comprehensive and competitive esports odds for some of the most popular disciplines.
The scope of markets and the value of odds are unrivalled with PandaScore using sophisticated models backed by a team of experienced traders including specialist traders for disciplines like CS2, Dota 2 and LoL.
A growing number of platform providers and operators are making a move into the lucrative esports betting space, with PandaScore recently surpassing €1bn of bets through its platform off the back of a sharp rise in demand among players and operators.
Joseph Noone, Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore, said: “Playbook Engineering powers some renowned sportsbooks as well as up and coming brands that are really making an impact.
“It’s great that these sportsbooks can access our esports odds, data and betting products, allowing them to engage new and existing player cohorts with a compelling esports offering that stands out when it comes to the range and value of odds.
“The integration wouldn’t have been possible without our shared partner Sporting Solutions, and stands as an example of what can be achieved when providers work together.”
Luke Cousins, Commercial Director at Playbook Engineering, added: “Sportsbook operators simply can’t ignore the demand for esports betting and in PandaScore, we have a premium odds, data and betting product provider that lives and breathes esports.
“This partnership, done through our mutual friends, Sporting Solutions, further positions Playbook Engineering as a tier-one platform provider to some of the most exciting sportsbook brands around the world. This makes it a win for us, our partners and their players.”
The post PandaScore and Playbook Engineering join forces appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Four Countries Shortlisted to Host GOTF 2027

Phygital International (PI), the exclusive rights holders and custodians of The Games of the Future (GOTF), announced that Brazil, Serbia, South Africa, and Uzbekistan are the shortlisted applicants to host GOTF 2027. The Games of the Future is the world’s leading phygital sports tournament, bringing together sports and esports athletes from around the world.
With the UAE set to host GOTF 2025 and Kazakhstan in 2026, the competition for the 2027 edition has drawn significant interest from nations eager to position themselves as leaders in the world of phygital sports.
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said: “We received bids from right around the world which highlights the growing awareness and passion for phygital sports globally. We would like to thank all the nations who bid to host The Games of the Future 2027 and are pleased to announce that Brazil, Serbia, South Africa, and Uzbekistan have been selected as the nations shortlisted as potential hosts.”
Following further evaluations and detailed assessments of each finalist’s proposal, the final decision on the host country for GOTF 2027 will be announced in the summer of 2025.
The post Four Countries Shortlisted to Host GOTF 2027 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Valorant Added to Hero Esports Asian Champions League

The HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier multi-title esports tournament hosted by Hero Esports, has officially announced the addition of VALORANT to its inaugural lineup.
Previously, ACL unveiled six game titles: Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), Honor of Kings, Teamfight Tactics, Delta Force, and Crossfire. With VALORANT joining the roster, the total number of games now stands at seven, with more titles expected to be announced soon.
Through continued collaboration with the Esports World Cup, ACL has revealed that the champions of the ACL CS2 and Honor of Kings Tournaments will secure direct entry to the Esports World Cup. Further collaborations on the remaining titles of the ACL are anticipated.
The ACL VALORANT Tournament will be the only international-level VALORANT tournament held in China during the first half of 2025, attracting top teams from overseas. The Final of the event will take place offline in Shanghai. The event will use world-class production and cutting-edge live broadcasting technology to enhance audience experience.
The ACL is set to take place in the first half of 2025, with the Finals of the ACL CS2 Tournament and Honor of Kings Tournament scheduled for May. The ACL will have a total prize pool of $2 million.
Jonny Wang, CEO of the Asian Champions League, said: “We are excited to announce the addition of VALORANT to the ACL. Our ambition is to make ACL into a truly comprehensive tournament, providing a larger stage for players and teams across various competitions while delivering more exciting content for our audience.”
Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports, said: “We are pleased by the progress of the ACL and its ability to attract top teams and titles to compete across Asia. We look forward to the continued collaboration between Hero Esports, ACL and the Esports World Cup Foundation, which is testament to our shared ambition to shape and empower esports globally.”
The post Valorant Added to Hero Esports Asian Champions League appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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