Riot's April 2026 overhaul introduced a new two-year VCT partnership cycle beginning in 2027, with applications evaluated on community growth, business sustainability, and operations across fourteen regions including China. June updates confirmed VCT CN will retain eight partner teams alongside its visitor (Ascension) model, granting direct entry to Kickoff and early Cups while adding open qualifiers—distinct from the tournament-centric shifts in Americas, Pacific, and EMEA. This structure preserves China's established ecosystem and revenue streams for partners, with no major roster or regulatory shifts reported since the announcements. Trader consensus reflects the confirmed inclusion and continuity for CN amid the broader expansion to more regional events and qualification paths.