analysis of most likely Emea Partnered teams 2027

1. Fnatic
   (decently big fanbase org, appeals to the broader audience, decent viewership driver, financially stable and long history of competence and legitimacy from other esports, very ambitious org -> wants to win and invests money for it, )

2. Karmine Corp
   ( Massive viewership driver in other esports especially LoL, big passionate hardcore audience [that still needs to be brought over to val more through some success stories], very ambitious org -> wants to win and invests money for it)

3. Gentlemates
   (Big viewership driver in valorant -> 2 of the top 5 viewed matches in kickoff involve them including top 1, young org that has been expanding into various esports backed by rich & popular group of influencers, french market very passionate for esports, --> org is like karmine corp a few years ago)

4. Vitality
   (Filthy rich org, spends big in multiple esports, hugely successful im CS, ambitious but shaky in LoL, has been around for years in pretty much every esport --> current roster has potential of becoming a viewership driver with international success)

5. Team Liquid
   (Financially very stable, competent org with years of history in every esport, not the biggest viewership driver but reliable org with name recognition to the general audience, current team is pretty good)

6. Team Heretics
   (Due to KOIs failure so far the primary representative of the spanish market, not the biggest org with the most money but a decently established brand by now with a strong team, social numbers are decent)

7. KOI
   (Despite their consistent failure of the past few years a potentially massive viewership driver, desperately needs more success though to unlock that, clear number 1 representative of spanish fandom if they do that, very successful in LoL currently with huge viewership, would be ranked in top 3-4 if they had a good team)

8. BBL
   (Higher fan potential than Fut. Most likely to be a hub for turkish fans to flourish in. If they find more success than they currently that should help them. Some questions remain about financial sides and payments made, there have been rumours about it)

9. FUT
   (Consistent success results wise, good team, however turkish fans dont connect to them as much apparently, BBL seems like better alternative, not the biggest esport history either)

10. Navi
    (So far an abject failure, eastern fans remain loyal to CS, drive the old FPX core into the ground, not as established as TL, VIt, FNC in esports world)

11. GiantX
    (A bit of nothing org, no fans, no big success stories beyond one champs appearance, not as established as FNC, TL, Vit but with a decent presence in esports world, but KOI and Heretics already cover the spanish market better, would make more sense to replace them with some german presence for example [Fokus]

12. Apeks
    (Worthless org honestly, minor esports world presence with little money and no fans, UK market is dead anyway and has no potential)

Some suggestions for new partnered teams that arent already in the league:

1. Joblife
   Another (!) french streamer org, yes, but they simply get massive viewership for T2. Has big potential to be T1 viewership driver

2. Fokus
   If they ever intend to win over the German market Fokus is currently their best bet. Highest viewership in VCL dach but its much less than the french communities

3. Mandatory
   ANOTHER french streamer org but once again get good viewership in T2 and has fan potential for T1

4. DVM
   Same as mandatory

W thread

SnorlaxEnjoyer [#2]

W thread

Appreciate it

team spirit.

bro put every french org in top 5, clearly unbiased

Make Mates a permanent org

uwukitten [#5]

bro put every french org in top 5, clearly unbiased

Brother i am looking at viewership. Reality is that france is currently showing by far the highest esports viewership in europe. I clearly explained this if you read the post but you'd rather just sling shit at me uninformed.

fnc isnt financially stable atleast rn

Of corse i am biased. However regarding EMEA stats and streams TL has a relativ big community and are always LIVE in Berlin with a crowd.

W thread

vctscrims [#8]

fnc isnt financially stable atleast rn

They have been around for decades. They regularly make their payment in time and spend pretty big on rosters. For esports that is very stable

Kalypso [#9]

Of corse i am biased. However regarding EMEA stats and streams TL has a relativ big community and are always LIVE in Berlin with a crowd.

W thread

TL has, like FNC, brand recognition amongst the general audience. They have less of a dedicated hardcore fanbase than the country-specific/streamer orgs but add value to the ecosystem as a whole. Due to the sheer longevity of their esports presence they have amassed some level of core audience but its still not comparable to the streamer orgs

I agree with this, I think apes and gaintx will not be renewed and the other 10 teams have some worth, even if not playing great.

Unlikely to happen but in 2026 they could have a point system in vct to see who proceeds into 2027, like 8--10 teams. Then have a points system in challengers to see who proceeds to partnership. Tbh I think this would be bad, but valorant something bad things so could happen.

Amazing post btw

SomeOne__val [#12]

I agree with this, I think apes and gaintx will not be renewed and the other 10 teams have some worth, even if not playing great.

Unlikely to happen but in 2026 they could have a point system in vct to see who proceeds into 2027, like 8--10 teams. Then have a points system in challengers to see who proceeds to partnership. Tbh I think this would be bad, but valorant something bad things so could happen.

Amazing post btw

I dont think riot is gonna make partnership contingent on short term competetive success alone.

The will look at fan potential, viewership, the serving of different markets, financial stability, competent operations and then maybe success as the last factor. As long as someone isnt deliberately spending pennies for years and is always a bottom feeder then they wont care

i don't think m8 is getting franchised

vctscrims [#8]

fnc isnt financially stable atleast rn

Dont even think it matters atp

How do you feel about Barça Esports?

vctscrims [#8]

fnc isnt financially stable atleast rn

honestly unless they fall apart they are guaranteed

shermie [#16]

How do you feel about Barça Esports?

They have never really drawn much in esports. Doesnt seem like the name value is doing too much.

We need Astralis

vctscrims [#8]

fnc isnt financially stable atleast rn

no org is financially stable then.

Kirya [#4]

team spirit.

russia and riot being political, low likeliness altho it'd be sweet

MassterBaiter [#19]

We need Astralis

even less likely than nip lol

Frogger0_0 [#14]

i don't think m8 is getting franchised

this is the team who sold the most bundle in eu + biggest viewership

Nice list, top 6 makes a lot of sense. I would say get rid of gentle mates tho. They aren't that good, we already have too many french orgs, and the kickoff viewership was actually carried by florescent more than the fans of gentle mates.

Context? I'm confused
Are they letting go of some orgs?

Fnatic
Team Liquid
Karmine Corp
Team Vitality
Team Heretics
NAVI

Yistyy [#24]

Nice list, top 6 makes a lot of sense. I would say get rid of gentle mates tho. They aren't that good, we already have too many french orgs, and the kickoff viewership was actually carried by florescent more than the fans of gentle mates.

They have consistently one of the higher viewership averages. Apeks doesnt appear in the top 5 viewed matches outside of their GM8 match whereas GM8 does.

They have one of the highest fanbase potentials in emea. Just need some more success. French bring the most viewers so they deserve the most orgs currently.

If you wann get in new markets replace apeks/giantx for Fokus or smth

I disagree fundamentally with April’s. We saw what they achieved in counter strike strictly from passion, great vlogs from tournaments, and developing incredible talent. To say the org is poor I think has bad taste, especially when they have succeeded in the past.

RzqoFoxie [#25]

Context? I'm confused
Are they letting go of some orgs?

Partnership system is likely getting changed for 2027 to 6-8 partnered teams and rest ascension ones.

Plus lcq thats also available for T2 and T1 teams to qual for internationals

Ross [#28]

I disagree fundamentally with April’s. We saw what they achieved in counter strike strictly from passion, great vlogs from tournaments, and developing incredible talent. To say the org is poor I think has bad taste, especially when they have succeeded in the past.

I am not saying they are unprofessional. But they have no fans as an org and dont have a good/popular team under contract either. Plus very little presence in riot games esports.

I struggle to put them higher than anybody else

Do one for Pac