Format Hot Take

Most of the blame should be put onto the orgs that take the ENTIRE off season to trial to figure out their team. There are some good off season tournaments (Both increasing in the amount every off season, as well as the quality of the teams and production) but only like 25% of the total T1 teams play in them bc they are the only teams that have their rosters ready as soon as the season is over.

I didn't want franchising bc you never get stories like The Guard anymore who go from T3 to the top of T1 in less than a season. But you can't say that franchising prevents games from happening year round bc their are well produced off season tournaments that have T1 teams, it just sucks bc every tournament has the same few while the other orgs have their thumbs up their asses.

Also tournaments should have more unique prizes like Ludwig x Tarik with the engraved rolex watches. The players were genuinely trying rly hard bc they rly liked the prize idea for the tournament winners and MVP.

The problem isn’t just that orgs take the whole offseason to lock in their rosters, though that’s definitely a big part of it. It’s also how franchising is set up and how teams now focus more on stability than taking risks. With franchising, teams don’t have to worry about relegation anymore, so there’s less urgency to prove themselves right away. For orgs, that means they can afford to take their time in the offseason, even if it means skipping tournaments.

You’re spot on that franchising doesn’t stop games from happening year-round, but it does limit the variety of teams we see. We don’t get those crazy underdog stories like The Guard anymore because the system favors the teams already in the franchise. There’s just no path for new teams to rise up through open tournaments and shake things up. It’s mostly the same rosters, the same teams, over and over.

What the scene really needs is better incentives, a more efficient offseason schedule, and some way for non-franchise teams to get a shot at competing. That mix could bring back the energy and unpredictability that made early Valorant so exciting.

Nongshim went from premier to tier 1 in less than a year

they could do what EG did and use off season to trial players (being sym and yay), although they'll probably get flak if they cut a player that's doing well (COUGH ROSSY COUGH)

holy off season merchant.