KGeN, a community-led gaming platform, and Riot Games have partnered for the launch of ‘LIFT//OFF’, a community-led and data-driven online training academy to forge the next set of professional VALORANT athletes.
The partnership aims to elevate the skills of aspiring players and produce professional VALORANT athletes. This program will allow everyday gamers to make a mark, whether it is through their in-game achievements or showing off their skills on a global stage, as per the company.
The program will select gaming content creators as ‘creators’ and competitive gamers as ‘trainers’, from the VALORANT community to lead this training academy. It will select 20 creators from a pool of applicants, these creators will then form their teams from within their communities. Each creator will either select five players for their team or play alongside four players, forming a total of 60 to 80 players. Additionally, 20 trainers will be selected, with each assigned to one of the 20 creator-led teams.
A gamer’s in-game VALORANT performance, including stats like hours played, win rates, successful kills, headshot percentage, and KDR, combined with their social standing in the community, such as tournament wins, content creation skills, and positive feedback, will be the foundation for selecting the first group of trainers, creators, and esports recruits for LIFT//OFF.
LIFT//OFF will offer all participants an opportunity to connect with the global esports community. Top-performing teams will have the chance to showcase their skills in official VALORANT tournaments.
Additionally, the company stated that creators and trainers will receive official VALORANT merchandise, highlighting their involvement in shaping this program and contributing to the growth of the esports community in India. The program will include a mentor cohort which will captivate and engage a diverse audience. The program aims to not only elevate the skills of esports recruits but also cultivate the next generation of esports idols.
By mentoring participants in every facet of the player’s social persona, KGeN seeks to use data to build the reputation and “gamer cred” of everyone involved, ensuring they are well-rounded individuals ready for the spotlight. Data-driven insights will be used to tailor tutorials and challenges, helping each participant address specific areas where they need help.
The launch date is set for September 18 when applications for creators, trainers, and recruits go live and the last date to apply is October 10. From November 4 to November 26 players can take part in in-game challenges to test their learning and also win rewards from the leaderboard. From November 30 to December 3 when LIFT//OFF will feature a final tournament, to assess the learnings of the recruits and the teaching effectiveness of trainers.
