TSM leaves Valorant, Sentinels leaves Marvel Rivals, mistrust in the esports industry deepens

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 04/11/2025

Both TSM and Sentinels have withdrawn from esports titles, raising questions about the stability of major esports organisations and leagues. 

While Sentinels is pausing their participation in the up-and-coming Marvel Rivals esports ecosystem, TSM has withdrawn from the well-established Valorant ecosystem with “no immediate return in sight.” 

TSM exits Valorant esports 

On November 3rd, TSM announced that they are exiting the Valorant Esports ecosystem “with no immediate return in sight.” 

TSM joined Valorant esports in 2020. The North American organisation rapidly assembled teams within the ecosystem, comprising a main roster, an academy roster, and a roster for the Valorant Game Changers competition. 

However, Valorant’s franchising system meant that TSM did not have a place in the Tier One VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) competition. 

Instead, the organisation battled in the Challengers circuit over three years, attempting to reach the VCT through Ascension. However, they have decided that withdrawal is more beneficial than continuing attempts to reach Tier One. 

TSM’s withdrawal comes after Riot Games’ new plans to assist lower-tier teams in reaching higher-level competition. 

The VCT Path to Champions was recently updated to change the stipends, regional slots, and eligibility requirements for Challenger teams. However, these changes were clearly not enough to reassure TSM that they had the support to rise up in the ranks. 

Following TSM’s withdrawal, comments have been levelled at TSM’s organisational stability and Valorant’s franchising system. 

Some fans lament TSM’s increasing pattern of withdrawal from esports ecosystems. Others blame the restrictive movement within Valorant’s ecosystem, which is a result of the franchising system.  

Both narratives raise doubts over the stability of the esports industry overall. 

Sentinels pause operations in Marvel Rivals

On the same day that TSM announced their departure from Valorant esports, Sentinels confirmed that they are pausing operations in Marvel Rivals. 

Sentinels developed a respectable reputation in the Marvel Rivals esports scene. In June 2025, the team won the Marvel Rivals Ignite 2025 Stage 1: Americas circuit, as well as several other regional competitions.    

Despite reassuring fans that Sentinels “couldn’t be prouder” of what they accomplished in their year of competing, they confirmed that all their players are released from their contracts, leaving no team remaining. 

In their post announcing their departure, Sentinels also referred to issues with ecosystem support for organisations:

“If and when NetEase roll out a program with team incentives, we would revisit the decision.” 

Once again, the commentary on the Sentinels’ decision was divided into two groups. 

Some comments blamed the game title and its management of the competitive ecosystem. Meanwhile, others blamed the organisation’s financial management and ability to support its teams.  

Commentary around TSM and Sentinels suggests lack of trust in the esports industry is deepening

With both esports title withdrawals sparking two distinct narratives, an overall lack of trust in the esports industry is exposed. 

Esports fans consistently notice the brutal impact of esports ecosystems on their favourite organisations. Particularly in the case of Valorant’s franchising, fans frequently express their disappointment in the division of organisational support from Riot Games. 

However, fans are also increasingly quick to point out financial mismanagement from the organisations themselves. 

In the case of TSM, fans still remember the organisation’s disastrous funding collapse after the downfall of the now bankrupt crypto exchange company FTX. 

Back in 2021, TSM changed its name to TSM FTX after signing the largest naming rights partnership in esports history. However, the $210 million USD deal spectacularly collapsed in 2022 after FTX filed for bankruptcy due to fraud perpetrated by one of its co-founders. 

Although TSM stated at the time that the deal’s collapse did not affect any part of TSM’s operating plans, fans were quick to notice increased cost-cutting from the organisation since. 

Most notably, this cost-cutting included leaving the LCS, North America’s League of Legends circuit. Now that TSM has also exited Valorant esports, they no longer compete in any Riot Games titles. 

While this lack of trust in ecosystems and teams may appear particularly strong at present, it is not a new phenomenon. 

The phrase “esports is dying” has circulated for as long as the esports industry has existed. 

However, that does not mean that indicators of deepening mistrust should be ignored.

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.

All Posts By Hannah Marie ZT