The year 2023 saw VALORANT reach unprecedented heights and we compiled some of the most exciting facts that were recorded last year.
As we bid farewell to 2023, it's undeniable that the year has been nothing short of spectacular for VALORANT. From jaw-dropping tournaments that kept us on the edge of our seats to the introduction of new agents and game-changing updates, VALORANT has continued to captivate and evolve.
We highlighted events, teams, players, and agents that have become a huge part of VALORANT’s 2023 Year in Review.
Here’s a quick look at VALORANT’s recorded numbers for 2023:
Highest Tournament Prize Pool
This year, VALORANT recorded the highest tournament prize pool of all time. VALORANT Champions 2023 boasted a whopping $2,250,000 prize money. This is more than twice the previous iterations of the said tournament.
VALORANT Champions 2021 and 2022 only recorded a $1,000,000 prize pool each. VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo also recorded the same amount this year which marked the first tournament to get a million-dollar pot money aside from Champions. VCT 2023: Game Changers Championship and VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo granted $500,00 each while the VCT Regional Leagues chalked up $250,000.
Most Watched Tournaments (Peak Viewers)
Surprisingly, VALORANT Champions 2023 was not the most watched tournament for 2023. There has been a decline in VALORANT’s player base and this has also affected the viewership record for a lot of tournaments this year.
VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo recorded the highest peak viewers despite the $500,000 prize pool. The tournament happened early in 2023 which means that the player base has not declined that much yet.
VALORANT Champions 2023 came close with 1.2 million peak viewers but the numbers are still considered underwhelming for the tournament of the year.
Players with the highest earnings as of 2023
It is no surprise that the top five VALORANT players with the highest earnings played for the same team this year. Evil Geniuses won VALORANT Champions 2023 and the winnings propelled the earnings of the players.
Ethan "Ethan" Arnold tops the chart with $288,266.67 followed by his teammates Alexander "jawgemo" Mor, Kelden "Boostio" Pupello, Corbin "C0M" Lee, and Max "Demon1" Mazanov. Since VALORANT Champions 2023 recorded the highest prize pool, the Evil Geniuses players easily took the top five spots.
Next year will be fierce competition for these players to keep their records as they are now playing for different organizations. Fans also expect the Champions Tournament prize pool to be higher or just the same. Whoever wins VALORANT Champions 2024 will surely take the spot as the VALORANT player with the highest earnings.
Top Teams per Region
Listing a top team globally is almost impossible for VALORANT as there are constant roster changes. No team has been dominating the professional scene as of now so we included the top teams per region based on their tournament stats.
Fnatic, Evil Geniuses, LOUD, Paper Rex, DRX, and EDward Gaming topped their respective regions for 2023. These teams are present in huge tournaments and earn their place in the top spots.
Fnatic won VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo and VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo while Evil Geniuses won VALORANT Champions 2023. Paper Rex, DRX, and EDward Gaming are currently dominating their respective regions.
There are a lot of teams that are considered heavy fan favorites here and there but most were short-lived. Some fans also relied on which banner their favorite player was currently representing.
Most Picked Agents (Radiant)
There is no official data released by Riot for the top-picked Agents but third-party applications recorded the number per rank. The stats above are from the Radiant elo and these agents may differ per rank.
The professional scene also records different top agent picks per tournament. Take these into account before we delve into the most picked agents for 2023.
Jett has always been the top favorite since the game’s release date. Despite the countless nerfs, Jett is one of the most powerful agents in the game for her high mobility and ability kit. Most high elo players have mastered Jett and it is one of the main reasons why Jett is always a go-to pick as a Duelist.
The second most picked agent is Omen. He is one of the best Controllers in the game. His smokes that can be used multiple times in the round and his teleportation abilities with a decent blind skill make him a favorite pick for any composition.
Raze, Cypher, and Sova complete the top five most-picked agents for the value they bring to the game with their unique abilities.
Indeed, 2023 was a year of spectacle in VALORANT. This year brought in remarkable tournaments, jaw-dropping gameplays, awesome new agents, exciting maps, and fun game modes.
This year was more than just a chapter—it was a testament to the passion and commitment that define VALORANT’s vibrant gaming community.
