NAVI misses out on VCT partnership for 2027 season

While some teams celebrate their continued partnership with Riot Games, others have been left off the list. After four years as a VCT partner, Natus Vincere will no longer be part of the partnership program for the 2027 season. However, the Ukrainian organization will remain active in the VALORANT esports scene, continuing to invest in the ecosystem, particularly through its Academy project.

NAVI's future in VALORANT

After four years as a VCT partner in Europe, NAVI has been left out of the final list of partner organizations for the 2027 season. The upcoming competitive circuit will introduce a new open format and a revised partnership structure. NAVI’s lack of results over the past few years may have contributed to the organization missing out on one of the eight partnership slots.

Despite losing its VCT partnership, NAVI will continue investing in the VALORANT esports scene, as revealed in its announcement on X. After launching NAVI Junior at the beginning of the year, an Academy project designed to help young players reach Tier 1 by providing them with the necessary resources, NAVI will continue investing in the competitive ecosystem through that initiative.

Our focus will now shift to NAVI Junior, a roster developed through our Academy project launched earlier this year. We will continue providing these young players with the resources and experience needed to grow and compete. NAVI Junior will soon participate in Project Blender 2026: Phase 2 and the VCT EMEA Kickoff Qualifiers [...] Our VCT partnership may be ending, but our VALORANT journey continues.

In September, NAVI had already moved most of its roster to inactive status, allowing the players to explore other opportunities. So far, only two players remain on the active roster: Uğur "Ruxic" Güç and Emirhan "hiro" Kat, alongside head coach Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow.

NAVI will now compete in the Project Blender - 2026: Phase 2, where reaching the Grand Final will secure the team's place in the next stage. The following stage is scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from December 18 to 20.

VCT 2027-2028

NAVI will also compete in the EMEA Open Qualifiers later in the season. For everything you need to know about it, including the format, key dates, and how teams can qualify for the first Cup in Berlin, Germany, check out our full guide here.

Teams will announce their status in Riot Games’ partnership program for the 2027–2028 seasons over the next few days. You can find the full list of confirmed partner teams here, which will be updated as more announcements are made.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image by Michał Konkol/Riot Games