Due to persistent technical difficulties, the VCT EMEA event experienced such severe issues that an entire match day had to be cancelled. Players were left stranded on the stage for extended periods of time.
Despite Riot’s apology, some top-tier gamers and ex-competitors pointed out issues directly. They argued that Riot’s PC setups were substandard, and the LAN environment fell significantly short of their expectations – a criticism amplified by the fact it wasn’t truly a LAN event as they usually play on 30 ping connections.
The various problems at hand have reached a critical point, as Ibai, a prominent Twitch broadcaster and co-owner of Movistar KOI, has taken a firm stance. He’s refusing to participate in the league until alterations are implemented, and consequently, his team is withdrawing from the playoffs.
This situation is quite significant, but only if KOI had managed to qualify for the playoffs. In fact, they seem to be adding humor to an issue that’s causing chaos within the EMEA league. However, it appears there is some substance to the boycott: Kameto has decided not to co-stream it, which could lead to a significant reduction in viewership for Riot, possibly numbering in the tens of thousands.
Valorant’s EMEA league boycotted by Karmine Corp’s owner
After Ibai’s playoff joke, teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs responded with camaraderie, poking fun at Riot Games as well as themselves in a humorous manner.
Standing united with fellow teams in the VCT EMEA region, we’ve chosen not to join the playoffs until concerns that impact our players have been addressed and properly dealt with.
— Apeks VALORANT (@ApeksValorant) April 25, 2025
So far, no team currently involved in the Playoffs has chosen to protest or boycott, although some teams are using humor on social media about it. Team Liquid, one of the two squads affected by the tech pauses that occurred on April 25th, posted pictures such as Ben Affleck smoking on a balcony and made jokes regarding the extended duration of these pauses during the event itself.
However, there is one big personality who’s making a stand: Kameto.
He stated that he would stop using VCTs until they resolve their problems, expressing his displeasure about being treated unfairly in this manner. Given that both Karmine Corp and Team Liquid were affected by the same issues, his anger is understandable.
Refusing to participate in games and boycotting them might lead to fines or even expulsion from the league, a scenario which Kameto would probably prefer to avoid given the high cost of franchise slots. However, his decision to halt his co-stream still constitutes a significant setback that doesn’t infringe upon any contractual rules.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to admit, while Ibai’s “boycotts” are undeniably a playful jest, there’s definitely some serious boycotting happening in the esports world. Take Kameto for instance, with his ability to draw tens of thousands of viewers at once. He’s part of the colossal Karmine Corp family, one of the biggest names in esports organizations out there. Their fans are unwaveringly loyal, and when he publicly calls out the league, it’s bound to catch Riot Games’ attention.
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2025-04-26 00:18