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Ukrainian esports franchise Ninjas in Pyjamas has announced its return to the Valorant Game Changers EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region with several new signings.
The esports outfit’s return to the EMEA region is marred by the addition of three female players, Paige “Padge” Thomas, Öykü “OYKU” Büyük, and Nelly “Raina” Sosobrado to its roster.
NiP has now officially confirmed it will be competing in the 2023 VCT Game Changers, a competitive circuit for marginalized genders organized by Riot Games.
Ninjas in Pyjamas made the announcement on its Twitter page, revealing it has secured three of the proposed five-female roster. The franchise also made a subtle call, throwing the gates open for the remaining slots left on the team.
Raina, OYKU, and Padge are not strangers to each other as they have all been under the same banner, having formed the core of the 2022 Rix.GG Lightning roster.
In October, they competed in Game Changers EMEA: Series III and they tied for 5th-6th with Acend Rising, behind TENSTAR Nova, Natus Vincere Celestians, G2 Gozen and Guild X.
Raina, who recently joined NiP along with OYKU and Padge, declared, “New chapter, y’all better be ready for us we are coming for that trophy.”
The rest of NiP’s Game Changer lineup is currently unknown, with the team planning to announce the final two members at a later date.
The Swedish esports franchise, which has a long history in the competitive gaming scene, initially entered the Valorant esports world in August 2020 with the signing of a European roster. However, the team struggled to find success, and NiP ultimately decided to release its players and take a break from the game.
The community welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm, as it was excited to see a well-known esports outfit like NiP joining the Game Changers scene.
However, its previous teams were all made up of professional male players. In September 2022, NiP dissolved its VALORANT team, allowing the male players to pursue other opportunities after it failed to secure a spot in the 2023 franchising program.
The return of NiP to the Valorant Game Changers EMEA region is sure to shake up the competitive landscape. The franchise has a strong following and a reputation for producing top-tier teams in a variety of esports, and fans are eager to see how the new roster will perform.
While the team has high hopes for its return to the Valorant scene, the competition will be fierce. The Valorant Game Changers EMEA region is home to some of the best teams in the world, and NiP will have to work hard to earn its place among them.
In 2023, the VALORANT Gamer Changers EMEA circuit will undergo significant changes as it is divided into four tiers: VCT Game Changers EMEA: Academy and VCT Game Changers EMEA: Emergents, VCT Game Changers Contenders, VCT Game Changers EMEA, and Game Changers Championship.
This restructuring is intended to create a clearer path to professional play and is being implemented by Riot Games.
