Published on: November 14, 2023, 07:31h.
Updated on: November 14, 2023, 07:31h.
FC Barcelona, intensifying their involvement in eSports, has announced its intentions to venture into the Valorant arena. They will purportedly have their own team compete in LVP Rising, a top-tier tournament in the Spanish Challengers League.
Through the Barca Games initiative, the club plans to enhance its influence in the eSports sector. The introduction of a Valorant team underscores Barcelona’s dedication to broadening its participation in digital sports markets.
The Rising Series, acclaimed as the preeminent Valorant competition in Spain, will be a vital platform for the Barcelona Valorant team to showcase its talent.
The move towards Valorant follows FC Barcelona’s earlier entry into eSports, with teams in League of Legends (LoL) participating in the LVP Superliga since 2022. Its Rocket League team disbanded in late 2021 after competing in numerous LAN events since 2019, however, Barcelona’s continued support for eSports remains clear.
The professional gaming streamer Lembo, previously associated with Twitter, tweeted about Barcelona’s new eSports project, tagging it as a “leak”. The club has yet to make an official declaration about its launch.
LEAK: FC Barcelona will have a Valorant team in 2024 to compete in LVP Rising.
It will be part of the Barca Games initiative that the club recently introduced and they are already evaluating signings, with enough budget they could fight for the league. More news soon pic.twitter.com/fPb6HschyH
— Lembo (@Lembo006) November 13, 2023
This recent news is in line with the ongoing trend of soccer clubs expanding their reach into eSports, highlighting the rising convergence between conventional sports and the thriving gaming sector. It further coincides with soccer star Lionel Messi entering the eSports arena. Messi, alongside ex-Argentine soccer player Sergio Agüero, became part owner of KRÜ Esports, which competes in the VCT Americas.
Barca Games Elevates FC Barcelona to Uncharted Territories
The Barca Games project characterizes the club’s fearless leap into the expansive world of gaming and eSports. Set to kick off in early April, the aim of Barca Games is to establish a vibrant and interactive platform that transcends traditional sports.
With this inventive venture, FC Barcelona demonstrates its commitment to embrace the digital age and connect with enthusiasts in novel and thrilling ways. By plunging into gaming through Barca Games, the club is strategically adapting to the evolving preferences of its fans. This move offers a chance to appreciate the increasing overlap between standard sports and the extensive universe of gaming and eSports.
While full details concerning Barca Games remain undisclosed, the addition of a Valorant team in the LVP Rising implies a multi-pronged strategy for the platform. It is presumed to provide a mix of competitive eSports content, gaming encounters and potentially even interactive fan engagement experiences.
The Popularity of Valorant Continues to Spread
Valorant has already become a standout game in the eSports world and shows no signs of slowing down. The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) is fast becoming a dominant force in the realm of competitive gaming.
Rapidly gaining popularity, the tournament commands significant viewership and cultivates an enthusiastic community of fans and participants. Riot Games, the mastermind behind Valorant, plans to amplify the VCT experience in 2024 with substantial enhancements to increase competition.
In response to the evolving gaming landscape, Riot Games proposes changes to the VCT’s format and structure. Distinct tournaments will be held for each global league, including a debut event in Spain.
Alterations will also be made in how the VCT distributes points. The new Championship Points system is designed to be more directly related to performance targets. Concurrently, it may revolutionize eSports betting as teams and players may experience quicker fluctuations in scoring compared to prior tournaments.