Valve Shuts Down Quick Region Change VRS: BC.Game Might Miss PGL Major Singapore 2026

Valve has introduced new restrictions regarding regional team allocations in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). Teams will no longer be able to quickly switch between regions to secure better ranking positions for Major invitations. This decision directly threatens BC.Game's chances of competing at the PGL Major Singapore 2026.

According to the updated Major Supplemental Rulebook, a roster is only eligible for a new regional designation if it has not appeared in the VRS of any other region for the previous three calendar months. Crucially, this restriction applies specifically to Major invitations; teams can still change regions to qualify for other tournaments, but the path to a direct Major slot has become significantly more difficult.

BC.Game is a primary example of a team impacted by this change. In September, the roster benched Denis "electroNic" Sharipov and signed Australian Tyson "asap" Paterson. Combined with Mongolian players Senzu and mzinho, this created an Asian majority, allowing the team to move from the European VRS to the Asian one. Prior to the move, BC.Game sat at 36th in the European standings, whereas the Asian region offers five Major slots. After the transition, the team immediately climbed to second in the Asian rankings, which, according to simulations, gave them a 95.9% chance of receiving an invitation.

However, the new rule effectively nullifies this advantage. Since BC.Game only transitioned to the Asian VRS at the end of September, they will not meet the required three-month waiting period by the time invitations are issued. Valve confirmed to HLTV that these rules will be strictly applied to the PGL Major Singapore 2026, with the three-month countdown starting before the issuance of invitations, not before the tournament itself.

BC.Game is not alone in this situation; organizations like WW and Sashi also attempted regional shifts. These maneuvers, intended to capitalize on high rankings in different regions just before deadlines, are now largely ineffective for Major qualification. The PGL Major Singapore 2026 is scheduled for November 24 – December 13, 2026, with the final ranking deadline set for November 2. The tournament will feature 18 invitations for Europe, 9 for America, and 5 for Asia.