Valorant: Global Esports Exits VCT for AI Studio [Confirmed]

According to verified reports from VLR.gg published this week, prominent VCT Pacific organization Global Esports officially pulled out of Valorant and competitive esports entirely, releasing star players PatMen, UdoTan, Kr1stal, xavi8k, and Autumn as unrestricted free agents. The announcement came directly from CEO and Founder Rushindra Sinha, who revealed that the organization had planned its departure well in advance. Sinha explained that while 2026 marked a historic milestone for the franchise—reaching the international stage and lifting their first VCT trophy at Pacific Stage 2—shifting ecosystem partnership regulations made ongoing participation unsustainable. Maintaining a standalone esports business solely to keep the tight-knit roster together was no longer financially viable, especially as structural changes threatened to destabilize operations if even a single player departed. Instead of trapping talent or forcing compromises, management elected to release the entire roster into free agency so athletes can pursue premier Tier 1 opportunities without administrative restrictions. The organization will now pivot entirely toward building an innovative artificial intelligence studio. This seismic shift marks the end of an era for one of Asia-Pacific’s most passionate fanbases, leaving a massive void in the VCT franchise circuit as other organizations scramble to acquire top-tier free agent talent ahead of upcoming qualifiers.