Riot Games announced during 2024 Summer Game Fest that its popular free-to-play 5v5 FPS Valorantwill finally be coming to consoles. According to Riot, the console versions of Valorant features custom-built gameplay in order to uphold the competitive gameplay it is known for. A beta will be available to global players on both platforms soon, with a more limited beta kicking off for certain regions on June 14, 2024.
World’s most popular shooter is about to get bigger
Despite already being the most-played FPS in the world, Valorant is about to get a lot bigger by coming to consoles. Even though the PC player base is massive, there are still a ton of potential players who simply don’t like playing with mouse and keyboard or don’t have a PC to play on.
Before you worry about console players with aim assist taking over your lobbies—a problem other cross-platform FPS titles usually suffers from—PC and console will not have cross-play available. However, Valorant accounts will share a connected inventory and gameplay progression across all platforms, meaning you can access your cosmetics and other unlockables regardless of the platform you’re playing on.
“When exploring whether to bring Valorant to additional platforms, we knew we had to be able to offer the same uncompromising, competitive experience that we’ve provided to PC players for years: a precise, team-based, tactical shooter. We were adamant that Valorant’s core, competitive gameplay must feel natural on a controller; and – if we couldn’t deliver on that gameplay promise – we had to be prepared to walk away from it. We hope we nailed it, but ultimately, our players will have the final say.”
– Arnar Gylfason, Production Director of Valorant at Riot Games
The console versions of Valorant won’t be lagging behind, either. According to Riot, both PC and console versions of the games will receive simultaneous releases including live patch balances, new agents, maps, premium content, and more.
A limited beta will kick off on June 14, 2024, on both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 for players in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Japan. Those interested in participating can register for the beta here.
