Valorant community unhappy with VCT LOCK//IN co-streamer list

Prominent Valorant content creators expressed strong disappointment after discovering they were excluded from the official VCT LOCK//IN watch party co-streaming roster. This development sparked immediate community-wide discussions about Riot’s approach to recognizing dedicated community figures.

Similar to major esports tournaments, VCT LOCK//IN implemented selective co-streaming permissions that grant approved broadcasters exclusive rights to showcase tournament matches alongside their live commentary. These special privileges typically encompass professional competitors and established streaming personalities, but this iteration appeared to overlook numerous influential community representatives.

On February 11th, Riot Games published the finalized roster of authorized watch party organizers. This compilation represents the exclusive group of English-language streamers permitted to broadcast VCT LOCK//IN matches live to their audiences.

The Valorant community quickly identified several notable omissions from the approved list. Missing personalities included respected figures like AverageJonas and former professional player Hiko. Despite Riot including a disclaimer suggesting additional streamers might receive approval, community members expressed skepticism and surprise regarding both included and excluded names. The absence of recognized and admired Valorant streaming specialists and competitors led to accusations that Riot lacked genuine understanding of their dedicated player community.

Riot Games Responds to Valorant LOCK//IN Backlash

The widespread negative response to the co-streaming roster captured the attention of Leo Faria, Riot Games’ Global Head of Esports. He communicated that additional content creators had received invitations to participate in tournament co-streaming activities.

“While we prioritize linguistic diversity and variety, we don’t intend to prevent dedicated community members from producing content and sharing this significant moment alongside us. We appreciate your constructive feedback and hope you thoroughly enjoy the event!” he posted on social media.

The corporate response generated predominantly positive reactions, with numerous content professionals requesting inclusion. Supporters demonstrated backing for their preferred streamers, attempting to secure their participation in the tournament coverage. This included competitive Valorant specialist Kaemi and popular content producer Fega.

Many community members questioned Riot’s methodology for determining co-streaming eligibility. This represents a recurring challenge within Riot’s ecosystem, previously manifesting during League of Legends Worlds 2022. During that incident, League of Legends analyst Marc Robert “Caedrel” Lamont characterized the selection approach as “disrespectful to dedicated community members.”

During the League of Legends incident, community sentiment suggested Riot prioritized mainstream streaming celebrities over individuals respected within and committed to the League of Legends community. This represented another instance where competitive gaming enthusiasts perceived Riot as disconnected from their game’s authentic competitive landscape.

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The controversy highlights the delicate balance game publishers must maintain between maximizing viewership through mainstream appeal and recognizing dedicated community specialists. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anyone interested in the business side of esports, much like the strategic considerations discussed in our Battlefield 6 Complete Guide, which explores similar community management challenges in different gaming ecosystems.

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