Ludwig Blasts Riot After Shopify Rebellion Misses Out on VCT Partnership
Twitch streamer and Shopify Rebellion co-owner Ludwig Ahgren has publicly criticized Riot Games following the announcement of reduced VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) partnerships for 2027 and 2028. As Riot Games prepares to transition Valorant esports to a new open circuit format, the company has cut the number of partnered teams in each region to just eight, down from previous levels.
Shopify Rebellion’s application for VCT partnership status was rejected in this restructuring, prompting Ludwig’s sharp rebuke of Riot’s decision-making process. In response, Ludwig streamed commentary suggesting that the organization may reconsider its continued investment in Valorant going forward, raising the possibility that Shopify Rebellion could exit the competitive scene entirely.
This decision represents a significant setback for Shopify Rebellion, which joined Valorant’s professional circuit in June 2022. The organization has established itself as a successful competitor, particularly in the Game Changers Championship—a competitive division focused on women players—winning the title in both 2023 and 2024. The rejection from the VCT partnership program jeopardizes this track record of success.
Ludwig’s criticism highlights tensions between esports organizations and Riot Games’ vision for Valorant’s competitive future. The shift to an open circuit format, while potentially more inclusive in theory, has resulted in reduced partnership slots and the exclusion of established organizations. The threat of Shopify Rebellion’s departure underscores the challenges Riot faces in managing the transition while maintaining support from prominent stakeholders in the esports ecosystem.