Disguised (DSG) has announced its departure from the APAC region, expressing frustration with VALORANT Challengers SEA’s streaming exclusivity policy tied to the platform SOOP.
MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE – Disguised (DSG) has announced their withdrawal from VALORANT Challengers SEA and the release of their roster, citing Riot’s recent exclusivity deal with the streaming platform SOOP. This agreement, which restricts streaming games on other platforms, significantly impacts DSG as a content-creator-led organization. As a result, the decision was made just two days before the team’s Split 1 campaign.
“With Riot’s recent partnership with SOOP for the SEA League, the exclusivity clause prevents co-streaming on other platforms. This would mean that we would not be able to stream our games for the next 10 months until our team qualifies for Ascension.”
DisguisedToast, the owner of the organization, shared that DSG had planned to keep the MY/SG roster for another season after their successful run, which included qualifying for Ascension Pacific Jakarta. However, the exclusive deal between VALORANT Challengers SEA and SOOP, introduced in Split 3 last year and lasting through the current season, made it unsustainable for one of SEA’s top organizations.
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In a statement to VALO2ASIA in early November, Riot Games confirmed that VALORANT Challengers SEA would have exclusive live-streaming rights for the entire 2025 season.
DSG’s exit follows in the footsteps of Made in Thailand, who recently pulled out of the scene for the same reasons.
DSG entered the APAC region at the beginning of 2024 with their MY/SG roster, achieving success by winning Split 2 of the previous year and qualifying for VCT Ascension Pacific, which saw them finish in 5-6th place after losing to the eventual finalists, BOOM Esports. The team also claimed victories in Predator League Singapore, OneGame Showdown 2024, and VALORANT Challengers SEA Split 3, where they triumphed over Made in Thailand. Now, the two organizations that reached the finals of VALORANT Challengers SEA Split 3 will not be competing in the upcoming season.
“It was a new and amazing experience stepping into the SEA region, and we appreciate the players’ hard work and dedication along with the endless fan support. We know they have a bright future ahead of them and hope the boys can find a new home.”
(Photo courtesy of VCT Pacific)
Meanwhile, Tidus “STYRON” Goh has confirmed that the team will stick together for the upcoming VALORANT Challengers SEA Split 1 while searching for a new organization to join. DSG recently added two new players: former Bleed Esports member Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh in November, and John “JA” Arone just last week to replace Derrick “Deryeon” Yee, who moved to Global Esports.
Disguised [DSG] were:
- 🇸🇬 Tidus “STYRON” Goh
- 🇸🇬 Rodman “Vera” Yap
- 🇸🇬 Wayne “wayne” Chang
- 🇻🇳 Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh
- 🇵🇭 John “JA” Arone
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Cover photo courtesy of Predator Gaming
