Riot Games has officially announced a historic financial milestone for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), revealing that over $105.2 million was shared with partner teams during the 2025 season. This figure represents a massive leap in the commercial scale of the tactical shooter, effectively doubling the revenue-sharing totals from the previous year.
The announcement, delivered in a year-end review by Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, highlights the “healthiest and most sustainable” ecosystem in the current esports landscape.
Digital Skins Drive Explosive Growth
The backbone of this record-breaking payout is the massive success of in-game digital items. Of the $105.2 million total, a staggering $86 million was generated directly from fan purchases of esports-related cosmetics. This includes:
- Team Capsules: Individual bundles featuring team-branded weapon skins (the Classic), player cards, and gun buddies.
- Champions 2025 Collection: The annual limited-edition bundle celebrating the world championship in Paris.
- Season Capsules: Time-limited bundles introduced to keep engagement high throughout the competitive calendar.
This $86 million figure marks a 94% year-over-year increase from 2024, proving that VALORANT fans are increasingly willing to financially support their favorite organizations through direct in-game purchases.
Viewership Peaks and Global Stability
The financial surge was mirrored by record-breaking engagement on the broadcast side. Masters Bangkok became the most-watched Masters event in VCT history with a peak of 5.2 million viewers, while the Champions Paris final where NRG Esports defeated Fnatic drew a cumulative 28 million viewers.
Riot’s model differs from traditional esports structures by prioritizing digital sales over volatile sponsorship deals. “Our community continues to elevate this sport,” Faria stated, noting that the revenue-sharing model provides a more predictable and stable foundation for teams to manage their business operations.
Expanding the Circle in 2026
Looking ahead, Riot plans to democratize these earnings. Starting in 2026, non-partner teams (those from the Challengers/Ascension circuit) who qualify for Champions will receive a “Champions competitive share,” which has exceeded $500,000 per team in recent years. Additionally, Riot hinted at a major overhaul for 2027, teasing that new digital goods may move beyond the “Classic” weapon skin to other popular rifles like the Vandal or Phantom.