A Conversation with iBUYPOWER on Their VCT Americas Esports Partnership

When iBUYPOWER announced its partnership with the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Americas, it marked a significant step in the company’s efforts to re-establish its presence in the competitive gaming landscape. As the Official PC Partner for this esteemed esports league, iBUYPOWER aims to highlight the performance and reliability of its systems amidst the resurgence of esports post-pandemic.
The collaboration emerged from iBUYPOWER’s strategic decision to pivot during the pandemic. “When the pandemic hit, iBUYPOWER took a step back from the then-hibernating live esports events to focus on serving our customers, as PCs were in hot demand back then,” an iBUYPOWER representative explained. “Now with esports back in full effect, we wanted to throw ourselves back into the scene, specifically where we could prove the strength and reliability of iBUYPOWER systems. After talking with Riot Games, we knew VALORANT Champions Tour Americas was the perfect home for us. VCT Americas proved to be the perfect proving ground to showcase the performance and reliability of our systems that are accessible to anyone, which is what we wanted to emphasize the most.”
This partnership aligns with iBUYPOWER’s broader business and marketing strategies, emphasizing the company’s long-standing commitment to the gaming community. “Throughout iBUYPOWER’s storied 25-year history, we have been on the forefront of supporting gamers whether they’re first-time PC users or esports professionals,” the representative noted. “As a lot of people are aware, we’ve also been involved in various esports activations throughout the years, as competitive play and gaming are really ingrained into the company’s DNA. Part of our goals was to make a return to competitive play in a way that fits the current company structure, but also in a way where we can clearly showcase iBUYPOWER’s commitment to quality systems, customer satisfaction, and how accessible PC gaming is in 2024.”
During the VCT Americas events, iBUYPOWER executed a range of on-stage, virtual, and physical activations designed to engage both players and fans. “For our partnership with VCT Americas, we knew we had to go all in. From Day 1, we were there at the Riot Games Arena Tailgates with our own booth showcasing our new PCs and giving fans a chance to win prizes competing in fellow VCT Americas partner AimLab challenges,” the representative shared. “The booth experience evolved over the course of the season where we then built a live target practice game in which fans threw foam versions of Gekko’s Mosh at hanging targets to win prizes. As official matches began, we supported the fans watching from home with our feature online activation Unlock Your ACE where fans had a chance to win a FREE PC every time a player got an ACE. When the season ended, we tallied up 31 total giveaway PCs!”
A standout feature of this partnership has been the “iBUYPOWER ACE” moments, which have added a unique layer of excitement to the tournament. “We knew that if we were going to be associated with the most exciting moments on VCT Americas, that we would have to match that energy with something just as crazy,” the representative explained. “By giving away a PC with every iBUYPOWER ACE, we brought a new level of suspense and excitement to the audience as they see the kills start racking up and they cheer for that final moment, and for the players with a new goal in helping gift a PC to the fans.”
In developing systems specifically for the VCT Americas, iBUYPOWER introduced “Spec-Approved” PCs, designed to meet the high standards required for professional play. “The Spec-Approved PCs were something we wanted to make while the partnership was brewing, and we wanted to work together with Riot to create a line of systems that could live up to the Pro standard,” the representative stated. “This meant meeting performance benchmarks and stability in any VALORANT scenario which we were able to help find with our internal testing and previous experience VCT Americas had with other hardware. That eventually all culminated in an elevated experience that the players praise as they play with no interruption. In turn, developing these systems allowed us to find the perfect balance between performance and price for anyone looking to get into gaming.”
The impact of this partnership on iBUYPOWER’s brand positioning has been noteworthy. “The partnership definitely helped bring iBUYPOWER back to the forefront of competitive gaming,” the representative noted. “The systems on the VCT Americas stage showcased the reliable performance our brand has to offer while also highlighting our trademark aesthetics with the Y70 Touch Infinite. With this, we’ve seen an uproar of engagement from those wishing to see our return to esports and those who are now getting introduced to us through VCT Americas, which is evident if you see how we’ve grown across multiple social channels.”
Recognition of iBUYPOWER’s efforts came with a nomination for the Tempest Awards for Best Endemic Brand Activation. “The Unlock Your ACE activation was the core pillar of success for us through our first season of VCT Americas,” the representative shared. “It put us alongside the fans as we cheered for every epic moment during the games which felt so rewarding for us and the community. Our attachment really felt more than just a call-out on broadcast as the iBUYPOWER ACE since fans and players would talk about the giveaways.”
Reflecting on the partnership, iBUYPOWER has gained valuable insights into community engagement. “We realized our interactions with the community outside regularly scheduled matches is where the diehard fans reside,” they observed. “These standout interactions came from our content whether it was highlights, memes, or storylines about VCT Americas and VALORANT as a whole. Keeping that same level of enthusiasm and support for the overall community outside of just the esport is something we strive for, and we could not be more thrilled to be back.”
Looking ahead, iBUYPOWER plans to continue supporting and engaging with the esports ecosystem beyond the current partnership. “As fans first, we are always monitoring the esports scene and looking for different opportunities that will resonate with our community,” the representative concluded. “But as of now, our main focus is on VCT Americas with them being one of our biggest partners.”
iBUYPOWER’s collaboration with VCT Americas underscores the company’s dedication to enhancing the esports experience through reliable and high-performance gaming systems. As esports continues to grow, partnerships like this are pivotal in shaping the future of competitive gaming and fostering stronger connections within the gaming community.