Riot Games has introduced a Player Title in honor of Karel ‘Twisten‘ Ašenbrener, a Valorant professional player who passed away.
Twisten, known for his exceptional skills as a Jett player, had been struggling with depression and had previously sought treatment at a mental health hospital. Team Vitality, the team he played for, announced his death on July 7, 2023. This tribute by Riot Games marks the second time the developer has paid homage to a recently deceased professional player, with the first tribute being for Gizem ‘Luie‘ Harmankaya, who died in the Turkish earthquakes, in the previous Battle Pass.
The upcoming Episode 7 Act 1 Battle Pass in Valorant will feature Twisten‘s in-game name as a Player Title. This title can be obtained by players through the free version of the Battle Pass after reaching the fifth tier.
Similarly, Luie‘s Player Title was also made available in the previous Battle Pass. Riot Games aims to allow players to remember and honor these talented players through these in-game tributes.
Following Twisten‘s passing, various community figures expressed their support by pledging donations to mental health charities. Prior to his death, Twisten himself had initiated a charity drive during the VCT LOCK//IN event, donating a fixed amount for each Shorty kill. The community has kept this charity drive alive during VCT Masters Tokyo and has raised over $6,000 for the cause. This showcases the collective effort to remember Twisten and support mental health initiatives in his honor.
By unlocking the Player Title in Valorant, players can continue to pay tribute to Twisten. The release of the new Episode, scheduled for June 27, will allow players to obtain this title and commemorate the talented player’s legacy. It signifies a way for the community to come together and remember Twisten‘s contributions to the game while promoting the importance of mental health awareness.
