After years of rumors and speculation, Valorant has finally arrived on console. Riot Games announced that the free-to-play hero shooter will be released on PS5 and Xbox Series
According to a press release sent after the announcement, the PS5 and Xbox versions of Valorant will feature "tailored gameplay" designed to meet the needs of core competitive gaming. With this in mind, Valorant will not offer crossplay between PC and console. Instead, Valorant will feature “connected, shared inventory” and cross-progression between accounts.
Riot is also promising simultaneous cross-platform releases of all live patch credits, new agents, maps, premium content, and other features.
“When we explored the possibility of expanding Valorant to additional platforms, we knew we needed to be able to deliver the same uncompromising competitive experience that we've been delivering to PC players for years: a game of precise team tactical shooting,” said production manager Arnar Gylfason. in the declaration.
“We were determined that Valorant's core competitive gameplay would feel natural on console; and – if we couldn't deliver on that promise of playability – we had to be willing to walk away from it. end "Our players will have the last word."
Gylfason further explained what console players can expect from the PC version: "In order to provide the same PC experience, where shooting is the primary shooting mode and [sight shooting] is a supporting secondary mode , we experimented with several changes "and gamepad sensitivities."
“Focus is a new shooting mode that essentially acts like snapshot, but with lower sensitivity. This way, players can use shooting when they need to quickly move the camera/aim (corner peek, dodge tool), but with the advantage. From focusing mode whenever they need precision (to get those awesome headshots), it also brings the shooting mechanics closer to what console gamers are used to in shooter games, the all without losing the added value that Valorant's scope offers.
Valorant was first released in 2020 and has remained an ever-popular hero shooter ever since. “Valorant is the most fun multiplayer FPS I've had since Valve's Team Fortress 2,” we wrote in our original review. "The flexibility of its magic-filled staff coupled with a deep arsenal makes it an excellent, if difficult, competitive board. One to pick up early on.
However, amid its popularity, Valorant has suffered from player toxicity, prompting studio head Anna Donlon to recently state that Riot "absolutely needs to do better" to protect its players.
The Valorant limited beta is scheduled to begin in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan on June 14, with a rollout to other regions shortly after. You can sign up for the trial here. In the meantime, this weekend's events continue and you can check out all the remaining Summer Game Fest announcements here.