In 2022 we saw the rise of VALORANT stars, fierce rivalries and an epic final battle between North America’s own Shopify Rebellion and G2 Gozen in the first ever Game Changers Championship in Berlin. Now the stage is set– will history repeat itself or will a new contender rise up to claim the crown and instigate North America’s next dynasty?

Game Changers consistently showcases the height of talent and skill in VALORANT, with North American players among some of the best around the world. Seasoned vets will look to dominate the opposition for another chance to win it all, competing against new and hungry players ready to show they deserve the chance to prove themselves internationally. The road to the top is filled with players determined to be the best.

Here’s everything you need to know about Verizon VCT Game Changers 2023!

FORMAT & RULE UPDATES

Knights Arena, the events arm of the Pittsburgh Knights and professional esports team and gaming technology brand, is the official tournament organizer for the Verizon VCT Game Changers 2023 season. The Knights Arena has hosted many successful VALORANT tournaments for women and non-binary players, and is committed to creating a space that helps support and foster North American talent.

Three regular season tournaments, Game Changers Series I, II and III, will begin with Open Qualifiers leading into a Main Event. For the Open Qualifier, teams will battle in a GSL Group format to determine the top 8 remaining teams. These top 8 teams from the Open Qualifier will advance to the Main Event, a double-elimination bracket with all matches being a best-of-three. The Main Event finals will be a best-of-five.

Teams will compete for a share of the $50,000 prize pool and earn valuable points for the 2023 Game Changers World Championship qualification.

There will be a total of 410 points available for the top 16 placed teams throughout each Game Changer Series. The point distribution will be as follows:

• 1st Place: 20% or 80 points
• 2nd Place: 15% or 60 points
• 3rd Place: 12% or 50 points
• 4th Place: 10% or 40 points
• 5th - 6th Place: 7% or 30 points
• 7th - 8th Place: 5% or 20 points
• 9th - 16th Place: 2% or 10 points

The 2023 Game Changers rank requirement to participate in competition has been adjusted based on player feedback, increasing from Platinum to Ascendant to ensure stiffer regional competition.

SCHEDULE

The Game Changers Series I registration period opens on March 21, with the last day of each main event reserved for that event's Grand Finals.

Register your team at https://pks.gg/GCNA

GAME CHANGERS SERIES I OPEN QUALIFIER
April 4 - 6

GAME CHANGERS SERIES I MAIN EVENT
April 7, April 11 - 14

GAME CHANGERS SERIES II OPEN QUALIFIER
July 13 - 16

GAME CHANGERS SERIES II MAIN EVENT
July 26 - 30

GAME CHANGERS SERIES III OPEN QUALIFIER
September 28 - October 1

GAME CHANGERS SERIES III MAIN EVENT
October 4 - 8

AnyKey Joins Game Changers as Verification Partners

In an effort to improve the verification process, this year we’ve partnered with AnyKey, a non-profit organization that supports diversity, inclusion, and equity in esports and gaming, to help establish and improve best practices, rules, and guidelines for player eligibility. AnyKey has shown success in their partnerships with many major esport titles and aims to tackle the barriers within gaming culture that often limit access to competitive gaming.

AnyKey’s design of the new verification process for the 2023 Verizon VCT NA Game Changers season was informed by feedback from the VCT NA Game Changers community. The new system aims to support inclusion for women, non-binary, genderqueer, and trans players, while maintaining the competitive integrity of the Game Changers tournament space.

Players will begin the eligibility verification process by filling out a form that allows them to select from several different options to provide evidence of their identity. Options will include providing a photo ID with a gender/sex marker, an affirming doctor’s note, or a well-established social media account with a public track record of that player’s identity. Alternatively, players can choose to verify through a voice chat with AnyKey staff.

All competitors will have to be verified through AnyKey’s verification system before participating in VCT NA Game Changers events regardless of their past verification status.

For more information about AnyKey, visit anykey.org and follow them on Twitter @anykeyorg.

VCT Game Changers Academy / Knight’s Sakura Cup

This year, the Game Changers Academy will continue as the Knight’s Sakura Cup. Previously, the Sakura Cup was a tournament inspired by the onna-musha of Japan where the Knights created an arena for modern warriors to compete. These monthly tournaments allow top players to showcase their skills and compete for prize pools upwards of $10,000.

Stay tuned for further updates on the first official Sakura Cup tournament of the season and for registration details on the Knight’s Twitter at twitter.com/KnightsArena.

PARTNERS

Verizon is the official 5G and wireless services provider of the VCT. In addition to top-shelf video content and sponsored broadcast segments, Verizon ups our game through the Verizon Up rewards program, which features discounted in-game digital goods for the community to enjoy.

Red Bull is the official energy drink of VCT, presenting the Red Bull “Clutch Moment” during every match. Red Bull is also helping prepare the next generation of VALORANT pros by hosting community VALORANT tournaments, spotlighting the incredible grassroots talent of the scene.

Aim Lab is the official training partner of VCT, helping develop existing VALORANT pros and players trying to break into the professional scene with a variety of innovative training programs and custom insights.

Secretlab provides VCT pros with the pinnacle of gaming chairs — each designed and engineered using the highest quality materials and manufacturing techniques to ensure absolute comfort and unparalleled support.

[Change log (2/13/23): VCT Game Changers Academy changed from bi-monthly to monthly]