Apeks quit VALORANT Champions Tour citing changed conditions

Apeks have officially quit the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), bringing an end to a three-year campaign that saw the Norwegian esports team compete across multiple seasons of the VALORANT Challengers League (VCL).

In a statement shared on social media, Apeks thanked their players, staff, and fans, saying they had provided “unforgettable moments” and fought through both the highs and lows of the circuit.

“After careful consideration, we have decided to pause our VALORANT operation,” the organization said.

Apeks explained that the decision was influenced by Riot Games’ change to the VCL structure. The team had reinvested for the 2024 season believing they were competing for a two-year promotion slot into VCT, but Riot later reduced this to a one-year system.

By that time, Apeks said, their budget and plans had already been committed, leaving the organization unable to adapt.

The change resulted in “a significant budget reduction heading into VCT and fundamentally changed what we had planned for the 2025 season”, the statement read.

While Apeks expressed confidence in their ability to build another top-level roster, they said the current system “no longer aligns with the conditions that initially led us to invest in the space”.

Apeks ended the announcement by leaving the door open to a future return, writing, “We hope to return at a later point, but for now, we bid farewell.”

Riot Games recently made a slew of announcements about the 2026 VCT Season. The Kickoff event is set to feature a new triple elimination format, while global VCT events will visit three continents: South America (Masters Santiago), Europe (Masters London) and Asia (Champions Shanghai). 

While the VALORANT Champions Tour season is now over, there are various VCT Ascension and VCT Challengers events taking place, with spots in the main tour up for grabs.