GIGABYTE AORUS has signed a two-year partnership with VALORANT Esports EMEA, becoming the official hardware sponsor for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA and Game Changers EMEA through the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The collaboration centers on providing high-performance infrastructure to ensure “reliable production and smoother broadcasting” for the league’s ambitious 2026 calendar.
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As part of the deal, AORUS will deploy its flagship AORUS PRIME 5 gaming desktops and AORUS MASTER 16 gaming laptops to handle the technical demands of a high-tier esports broadcast. While the players’ on-stage PCs are a separate technical layer, the AORUS integration focuses on the operational backbone, ensuring that the feed fans see on Twitch and YouTube remains stable during peak moments of competition.
The GIGABYTE AORUS announcement continues a trend of major commercial moves for VCT EMEA. The league has recently secured two key partners for its lifestyle and technical ecosystems: A multiyear deal (2026-2027) that sees the Razer gaming chair deployed on stage for all professional teams, as well as in coaching and co-streaming suites, and a 2026 season-long deal with chocolate brand KitKat that introduces its signature “break” moments into the broadcast.
For Riot Games, the long-term hardware and peripheral partnerships provide stability to navigate the mid-season organisational shifts, such as the recent transition of ULF Esports’ slot to Eternal Fire. The 2026 Stage 1 kickoff is set for 1 April at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, which also hosts League of Legends events.
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