FURIA fe have transitioned to VALORANT, and we say good for them.

VALORANT has a solid women's scene, which is integrated properly into their pro circuit and backed by Riot to the teeth. In VALORANT, they’ll be respected and - most likely - adored, with watch time worthy of a scene that hasn’t failed an entire demographic.

This isn’t a knock on ESL, because they tried. This is a knock on performative fans who only cared about Impact when it was taken away, and especially on Valve, who could, and should, be doing more.

We all know the absurd amount of money Valve makes in a single month from Counter-Strike. They could absolutely decide to use even 10% of that and build an incredible circuit for women, which they could even model on VALORANT GameChangers, but they just won’t do that.

Why? Well, that’s anyone’s guess. But we honestly can’t wrap our heads around it.

It really wouldn’t have been hard for them to foot the bill for Impact and to create women’s Majors. Or, after Impact’s closure, to have paid someone like BLAST to run these tournaments instead.

The fact is, there simply isn’t the viewership for ESL, BLAST, or anyone else, for that matter, to support a women’s scene on their own. And without Valve’s help, there likely never would be.

But if Valve were to step in and arrange women’s Majors that take place prior to the actual Majors? That would all change. Not instantly, of course; it would definitely take some time, but with proper integration and its own Pick’Ems, a women’s Major would eventually thrive and ultimately, the women’s scene with it.

It’s great that the FURIA players have somewhere to go and to keep playing professionally, but it will never not be a shame that they have to compromise and play a game that isn’t their dream in order to do it.

Considering Valve has the money to do something about it, we’re starting to feel like it’s time to put the pressure on them and make sure they actually do.