After years of rumors and speculation, Riot Games has officially announced that Valorant, its popular free-to-play hero shooter, is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The announcement was made during Summer Game Fest, with a limited beta set to begin next week.
According to a press release, the console versions of Valorant will feature “custom-built gameplay” designed to maintain the core competitive experience that has defined the game on PC. Notably, there will be no cross-play between PC and console, but players can expect a “connected, shared inventory” and cross-progression between accounts. Riot Games also assured simultaneous platform releases for all live patch balances, new agents, maps, premium content, and other features.
Arnar Gylfason, production director at Riot Games, emphasized the commitment to delivering a high-quality competitive experience on consoles. “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,” he said. Gylfason highlighted that if the core gameplay could not be adapted to feel natural on a controller, they were prepared to walk away from the project.
To achieve the same experience as the PC version, Riot Games experimented with multiple adaptations and gamepad sensitivities. Gylfason introduced “Focus,” a new shooting mode designed to mimic the hip-fire mechanics of the PC version but with reduced sensitivity for precision. This adaptation aims to make Valorant’s gameplay feel intuitive for console players without sacrificing the game’s competitive integrity.
Valorant, first released in 2020, has been a popular hero shooter, praised for its combination of magically-infused characters and a deep arsenal. Despite its success, the game has faced challenges with player toxicity, prompting Riot to commit to better protecting its players.
The limited beta for Valorant on consoles will begin on June 14 in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan, with plans to expand to additional regions soon after. Players can sign up for the beta now. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements from Summer Game Fest.
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