Zero Tenacity Exits from the VALORANT Esports
Serbian esports organisation Zero Tenacity has announced its plans to exit the VALORANT esports scene ahead of VALORANT Stage 3. Despite performing well in the recent games, Zero Tenacity decided to quit VALORANT because of dissatisfaction with the Tier 2 ecosystem. They revealed that the lack of return on investment in VALORANT’s Tier 2 scene was the primary reason for their departure.
Missing Tier 2 Support Leads to Exit.
Zero Tenacity stated on social media that their VALORANT exit is mainly because of the VALORANT ecosystem’s Tier 2 structure being extremely unstable. They remarked that non-franchised teams receive no return on investment made, it will be a burden for teams, and “We see no benefit in investing in the Tier 2 VALORANT scene.” They also urged Riot Games to solve these issues.
Read Also: SwordArt retires from the professional League of Legends
Despite finishing second in the VALORANT 2025 North East: Stage 2, Zero Tenacity emphasised that it was not financially cost-effective. They also participated in the Challengers circuit but failed to qualify out of the groups. The organisation stated that its exit is not permanent, as a good ecosystem in a Tier 2 structure can be a reason for them to return.
Issues in Tier 2 Ecosystem
Zero Tenacity is not only suffering from these problems. Earlier this year, another top-tier Tier 2 team, M80, also discontinued its VALORANT roster after losing in the VCT Ascension finals. The combination of competition, financial strains, and shifting organisational structures poses difficulties in surviving outside the franchised leagues.
Many teams within the esports ecosystem have raised concerns that the Riot Games ecosystem is overly focused on Tier 1 franchises at the expense of building support for its aspiring teams in Tier 2. The competitive pressure, paired with financial instability, has made it increasingly difficult for organisations outside the franchised leagues to survive.
While Zero Tenacity exists from playing VALORANT, they continue to play games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2. They wrapped up their statement by thanking fans and players for their support while also hoping for a stronger VALORANT esports future.
Riot Games should address the concern to restructure the ecosystem, or it might lose talent from one of its flagship esports titles.
