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The Esports Advocate
The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) LOCK//IN tournament is held in São Paulo, Brazil. The winning team will also secure an additional slot for their region at the Masters Tokyo competition.
Riot Games has introduced the VCT LOCK//IN Capsule, a limited-time collection of in-game digital items designed to provide direct financial support to partnered professional teams. This initiative aligns with the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) event held in São Paulo, Brazil, which features 32 teams competing for a $500,000 prize pool and additional regional qualification spots for the Masters Tokyo tournament.
The core of this revenue-sharing model involves distributing 50% of all proceeds from the sale of the in-game capsule—which includes melee items, regional player cards, and a spray—directly to the participating partnered organizations. These items were made available for purchase within the game for a limited window between February 8 and March 7, 2023. In addition to the digital assets, the company launched a physical merchandise line consisting of apparel such as shirts, hoodies, and hats to commemorate the event.
The initiative involves a broad roster of 30 global esports organizations, including prominent teams such as Cloud9, Sentinels, Fnatic, Team Liquid, and Gen.G Esports. By integrating digital item sales with tournament-specific branding, the strategy serves to bolster the financial sustainability of the partnered teams while increasing fan engagement during the VCT season. This move reflects a broader industry trend of leveraging in-game monetization to support the professional ecosystem surrounding competitive titles.
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