Riot Games’ tactical shooter Valorant has received a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage, marking a significant moment for the game’s competitive scene and its broadcast production.
The accolade was awarded during the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony held in New York, recognising the production of the VALORANT Champions 2024 grand final. The event, featuring Team Heretics and EDward Gaming, who took home $1 million as winning prize money, peaked at over 1.4 milion viewers according to Esports Charts, concluding the game’s competitive season that year.
Despite facing technical challenges in 2025, Riot Games, which both develops the game and oversees its esports ecosystem, has steadily increased the broadcast quality of Valorant tournaments, blending traditional sports production techniques with digital-native storytelling.
This is the sixth time an esports event produced by Riot Games has been recognised at the Sports Emmys, but all other awards went to League of Legends‘ broadcasts. While esports broadcasts have long been popular within gaming communities, recognition from institutions such as the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) underscores the increasing mainstream visibility of competitive gaming.
“This is VALORANT Esports first Sports Emmy win and Riot’s sixth. This recognition is a testament to the growth of VALORANT Esports, the passion of the team behind this show, and the global community of VALORANT players who look to see the best of the best compete. Thank you to the players, fans, and Rioters who helped bring this show to life,” posted Riot Games on its LinkedIn profile.
