VCT China 2027 Partnership Plans: 10 to 8 Slots, Weibo Returns, EDG and FPX Out?

A major structural change is reportedly coming to the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) China region for the 2027 season. According to a report by specialist esports outlet Sheep Esports, Riot Games may reduce the number of partner teams in China from 10 to 8 in the next partnership cycle. This news has not yet been officially confirmed by Riot Games, so it should be treated as a single-source structural report. However, if these changes are indeed implemented, they will have a significant impact on the Chinese VALORANT ecosystem. The report states that six organizations from the current partner list—EDward Gaming, JD Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, TYLOO, All Gamers, and Trace Esports—are expected to remain partners in the next cycle. Among them, EDward Gaming's position is the most secure, as they won the 2026 VALORANT Champions tournament. This is China's only international title since the current circuit began, making their inclusion as a partner entirely reasonable. On the other hand, the most talked-about change is Xi Lai Gaming's entry into the partner list. After winning Ascension 2026, they paved the way to be promoted from a guest slot to a partner slot. They have attended every international LAN since Masters Toronto 2026, making their inclusion the most clearly performance-based. Another major return is Weibo Gaming. After missing a partner slot in 2026, they left VALORANT and returned in early 2026. It is now reported that they will regain a spot in the partner list. Their return is believed to be possible due to their large brand and financial capability. However, the list is not without controversy. Wolves Esports may reportedly lose their partner slot despite a surprising performance at Masters Toronto 2026. On the other hand, long-standing partners like FunPlus Phoenix, Nova Esports, and Titan Esports Club may also be excluded. Dragon Ranger Gaming was on a guest slot but could not be promoted to a partner slot. This incident suggests that commercial value and brand strength are being given more weight than competitive results in partner selection. Riot Games began its first VCT partnership cycle in 2026, which will conclude after the 2026 season. Thus, 2027-2028 will be the second cycle. Slot reallocation during this period is part of the normal process. Riot is reducing the number of partners from 10 to 8 across all its regions, not just China. Therefore, this is not an anti-China decision but part of a global structural reform. Importantly, while the number of partners is decreasing, Riot wants to make the 2027 season more open. Non-partner teams that build successful projects will be able to qualify for Cups and Masters. However, the specific qualification rules have not yet been finalized. The report also mentions that China's format may differ from the other three regions. According to analysts, reducing partner slots while simultaneously introducing an open qualification system may seem contradictory, but the goal could be to strengthen the Tier-2 ecosystem. However, if the open path is practically narrow, opportunities for non-partner teams will decrease and the protection of partner teams will also diminish. From an economic perspective, partner status is a two-year agreement that provides guaranteed circuit access and a share of Riot's revenue. For excluded teams, this is a major financial blow. Especially for established brands like FunPlus Phoenix, Nova Esports, Titan Esports Club, and Wolves Esports, it could create risks of sponsorship renegotiation, staff downsizing, and possibly shutting down their VALORANT divisions. On the other hand, the eight teams that remain will likely receive more revenue support than before. From a governance perspective, Riot is simultaneously the rule-maker, commercial stakeholder, and slot allocator. As a result, they have the unilateral power to make decisions regarding partner selection. Since Riot has not yet made an official announcement, the selection criteria are unclear. This opacity could create a credibility crisis in the future. Fan reactions also remain uncertain. Debate over Wolves' exclusion and Weibo's inclusion could quickly begin on social media. The debate over competitive value versus commercial value may become the main topic of discussion in the Chinese VALORANT community in the coming days. All in all, the VCT China 2027 partnership plan is still just an uncertain report. Until Riot Games makes an official announcement, it would not be right to take any decision as final. However, it is clear that the Chinese VALORANT scene is standing on the threshold of a major transformation.