In September, Valorant has been supporting Twitch’s “SUBtember” marketing campaign by gifting subscriptions to channels, inflicting some frustration for Valorant esports followers who need extra money invested into the scene. Now, Valorant’s Head of Esports has hit again on the criticism, claiming folks have gotten the mistaken finish of the stick.
Beginning on September 26, 2025, Twitch determined to cap off SUBtember with a “Bonus Reward Sub finale.” For each 5 reward subs bought for a channel, Valorant added one bonus reward sub in celebration of Valorant Champions Paris.
Valorant Gifting Kai Cenat Twitch Subs
Valorant was Kai Cenat’s high gifter throughout his history-making subathon. Picture Credit score: Twitch/Kai Cenat
On September 28, a number of followers famous that the Valorant channel had gifted round 60,000 subscriptions to Kai Cenat, who reached an astronomical 1 million subscriber rely by the tip of his September subathon, “Mafiathon 3.”
Folks have been fast to say that the cash used on these subscriptions might as a substitute have been put in the direction of Tier 2 prize swimming pools, for instance, calculating that the gifted subs would quantity to roughly $360,000.
Others steered that the reward subs ought to have as a substitute been given to smaller Valorant streamers, although it’s value stating that the partnership doesn’t discriminate based mostly on streamer measurement: at its core, if any streamer was gifted 5 subscriptions, Valorant would add one other, whatever the channel.
Head of Esports Responds to Fan Fury
Valorant’s International Head of Esports, Leo Faria, responded to complaints, confirming that neither Valorant nor Riot are paying for the gifted subs, however as a substitute it’s Twitch itself gifting the subscriptions.
Sure that’s right, we’re sponsoring the occasion, not gifting the subs
— Leo Faria (@lhfaria) September 28, 2025
He went on so as to add that “I perceive it could not really feel that manner, however we do make investments rather more than that in Challengers yearly. It takes a number of tens of millions of {dollars} to run all these Challengers leagues and Ascension tournaments world wide.
He concluded with one thing to get followers excited too, saying: “That stated, we’ve been working for a very long time to enhance the ecosystem for non-partner groups within the VCT and are getting near delivery some thrilling adjustments.”
Like I stated we didn’t donate $300,000 in subs. Moreover, I perceive it could not really feel that manner, however we do make investments rather more than that in Challengers yearly. It takes a number of tens of millions of {dollars} to run all these Challengers leagues and Ascension tournaments across the…
— Leo Faria (@lhfaria) September 29, 2025
Valorant Champions Paris has been ongoing all through this activation, with Finals Weekend scheduled for October 3-5.
