**Welcome, Valorant Community!
** I’m thrilled you’re interested in the changes Valve has made to the classic TI (The International) format for TI12. Let’s explore these new features and understand how they impact the tournament experience.
**1. New Group Stage Format**
Valve introduced a round-robin group stage, where each team plays every other team once in a double-elimination bracket. This change ensures more matches between top teams, increasing competition and excitement.
**2. Single Elimination Playoffs**
The playoffs now feature a single elimination bracket with no best-of-series. This format makes the stakes higher for each match and creates a more dramatic finale.
**3. New Prize Pool Distribution**
Valve has redistributed the prize pool, with a larger portion going to the winning team and fewer funds allocated to the lower placement teams. This shift incentivizes teams to aim for first place and creates greater competition among them.
**4. Changes to Side Shop**
The side shop now offers more items at each price point, giving players a wider range of options throughout the game. Additionally, the new “Item Upgrades” feature allows for more strategic purchases during team fights.
**5. Reworked Talents System**
Valve has revamped the talents system to provide more meaningful choices and allow for more flexible progression paths. This change adds depth to hero development and encourages diverse playstyles.
In conclusion, these changes to TI12’s format aim to increase competition, excitement, and strategic depth within the tournament. The new group stage ensures top teams face each other early on, while single elimination playoffs create a more dramatic finale. Additionally, the updated prize pool distribution incentivizes teams to reach first place and the revamped side shop and talents system offer more options and choices for players.
These modifications have already added nuance and complexity to TI12, making it an even more thrilling event for both players and spectators alike.