Riot’s Response to Pro Player Complaints: Updating Old Stage PCs for Valorant

The Global Head of Valorant Esports, Leo Faria, has stated that a new set of stage PCs will be provided for future competitive events in response to feedback and criticism.

Valorant professionals had previously voiced their dissatisfaction with the condition of the PCs provided for them to compete on during Riot Games events. The matter reached a tipping point in July when Tyson ‘TenZ’ Ngo spoke out about it before the 2024 World Championship.

The star of Sentinels expressed that elite Valorant players should be given the opportunity to compete with high-quality equipment, rather than being forced to use outdated computers.

“According to TenZ, Riot seems to prioritize their profits over investing in the esports scene, as seen in his comment on a YouTube short post discussing the stage PCs.”

Upon receiving complaints, Riot took immediate action and personally approached TenZ during Valorant Champions in Seoul to inform him that new PCs would be provided for next year’s competition. Faria was also featured in a Sentinels video discussing their performance at the tournament, where she revealed that 400 new PCs were being prepared specifically for TenZ’s use.

Valorant Champions stage before VCT 2024 — Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

Riot Games uses a fleet of PCs for its League of Legends and Valorant events.

Faria elaborated on his statements made in a Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/ValorantCompetitive/comments/1f6p632/leo_faria_on_stage_pc_upgrades/), revealing that Riot had already been considering upgrading their equipment. However, he mentioned that TenZ’s remarks did accelerate the process.

“Although the current setup has been sufficient to run VAL for the past few years, it is reaching the end of its lifespan. The concerns raised by professionals are valid. Our global fleet upgrades are planned on a schedule and the next one is scheduled to take place in October, regardless of any external factors,”he explained.

“I want to make it clear that I am not disregarding Tyson’s comments. In fact, professional feedback can often motivate us and I am grateful for their accountability.”

During the month of October, Riot will be hosting the League of Legends World Championships, giving esports professionals in the League of Legends and Valorant communities the opportunity to test the capabilities of these new PCs in 2025.