Alter Ego Quits Valorant Esports as SEA Tier 2 Scene Faces Crisis

May 21, 2025 — Alter Ego Esports has officially announced its decision to withdraw from the competitive Valorant scene.

In a social media post, the team shared that they’ve released all their staff and players, including Thomas “cud” Alfiantino, Davin “gotten” and Alehandro “nakya” Fabian. Earlier, they had also parted ways with players Adrian “adrnking” Setiawan and Willy “sayoo” Ivandra.

This decision is surprising because Alter Ego was one of the most active teams in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Valorant scene. They competed in major events like the APAC Predator League 2025 and Indonesia Challengers: Split 1 & 2. The team was also known for discovering new talent, even winning the Red Bull Campus Clutch 2023 in Europe with a roster made up entirely of college students.

A bleak outlook for Southeast Asia’s Tier 2 scene

Alter Ego’s exit has sparked sharp criticism from the Southeast Asian Valorant community, with many arguing that Riot Games—Valorant’s official esports organizer—should prioritize fostering competitive ecosystems beyond the VCT Pacific League. Observers warn that the dwindling participation of established, community-driven teams risks long-term declines in interest among both veteran and new players. This also could stifle the growth of emerging talent, which traditionally thrives in Tier 2 circuits.

Alter Ego is not the first popular Tier 2 team in the APAC region to step away from Valorant. Singapore-based organizations Disguised and Bleed Esports—which later ascended to Tier 1—also withdrew entirely from Valorant competitions after facing financial and operational challenges over the past year.

The departure of these teams underscores growing concerns about the sustainability of Tier 2 esports in Southeast Asia, leaving fans and players alike questioning the future of grassroots competitive development.