VCT 2027-28 partner teams confirmed: Paper Rex, RRQ, FULL SENSE stay as GAM join Pacific
Riot has cut each VALORANT league to eight partner teams for 2027-28. Paper Rex, RRQ and FULL SENSE stay in Pacific, GAM Esports and Crazy Raccoon join.
The line-up for the next era of top-flight VALORANT is now clear. The partnered teams for VCT 2027 and 2028 were confirmed across all four international leagues by 19-20 October 2026, with Riot Games reducing each league from ten partner teams to eight. For Southeast Asian fans, the headline is that Paper Rex, Team RRQ and FULL SENSE keep their places in VCT Pacific, while Vietnam's GAM Esports join as newcomers.
The VCT Pacific eight
The Pacific league for 2027-28 will feature Paper Rex, Gen.G, T1, ZETA DIVISION, Team RRQ, FULL SENSE, Crazy Raccoon and GAM Esports.
Six of those are returning partners. The two new names are GAM Esports, who have never before competed in tier-one VALORANT, and Japan's Crazy Raccoon, who return to the top level after disbanding their roster around three years ago. The Southeast Asian presence remains solid: Singapore's Paper Rex, Indonesia's RRQ, Thailand's FULL SENSE and Vietnam's GAM give the region four of the eight seats.
Who missed out in the Pacific
The cut to eight spots meant several familiar names fell away. KIWOOM DRX, DetonatioN FocusMe and Global Esports were announced as leaving the partner programme, with Global Esports reported to have pivoted away from esports altogether. Nongshim RedForce and VARREL, who both earned their way in through Ascension, were not selected.
Reports from Sheep Esports also indicate that the Philippines' Team Secret has lost partner status, and that RIDDLE and India's S8UL Esports will leave VALORANT entirely. Indonesia's BOOM Esports is not among the partners, with its future in the game still to be decided. These Team Secret, RIDDLE and S8UL details came from sources rather than official statements at the time of writing.
The other three leagues
- VCT Americas: LOUD, Sentinels, NRG, 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, KRU, LEVIATAN and MIBR.
- VCT EMEA: Team Vitality, Fnatic, Team Heretics, Team Liquid, Karmine Corp, Gentle Mates, BBL Esports and FUT Esports.
- VCT China: EDward Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, JD Gaming, TYLOO, Trace Esports, All Gamers, Weibo Gaming and Xi Lai Gaming.
G2 Esports, Weibo Gaming and Xi Lai Gaming are among the new partners elsewhere. Notable omissions include Cloud9, FURIA, FlyQuest, Movistar KOI, NAVI and FunPlus Phoenix.
Why it matters for SEA fans
Partner status brings stability: guaranteed places in the league, an automatic invite to VCT Kickoff 2027 and a share of revenue from team-themed in-game items. For Paper Rex, regular contenders on the international stage, it secures their place in the top league for another cycle. RRQ, with one of the largest fan bases in Indonesian esports, and FULL SENSE likewise avoid any uncertainty over their future.
The confirmation also arrives during a busy week for VALORANT. LOUD were crowned world champions in Shanghai on 18 October, and Evil Geniuses, absent from the new partner list, announced on 20 October that it will cease operations on 2 November. With the 2026 season closing on that date, the off-season transfer window is expected to be especially active, as players from teams that lost their slots look for new homes.
Key takeaways
- Each VCT international league drops from ten to eight partner teams for 2027-28.
- VCT Pacific: Paper Rex, Gen.G, T1, ZETA DIVISION, RRQ, FULL SENSE, Crazy Raccoon and GAM Esports.
- GAM Esports and Crazy Raccoon are the new Pacific partners.
- DRX, DetonatioN FocusMe and Global Esports are out; Team Secret's exit is reported by sources.
- Southeast Asia holds four of the eight Pacific partner slots.
FAQ Q: How many partner teams will each VCT league have in 2027? A: Eight, down from ten, across the Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China leagues.
Q: Which Southeast Asian teams are VCT Pacific partners for 2027-28? A: Paper Rex (Singapore), Team RRQ (Indonesia), FULL SENSE (Thailand) and GAM Esports (Vietnam).
Q: Is BOOM Esports a VCT partner team? A: No. BOOM Esports is not among the 2027-28 partners, and reports say its VALORANT future is still pending.
Sources: Sheep Esports, Insider Gaming, Strafe