Valorant looks a little different on console.
At the Summer Games Fest, Riot Games announced that Valorant is finally coming to consoles, with a limited beta set to arrive on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S next week.
The announcement was made on stage by Valorant executive producer Andy Ho and production director Arnar Gylfason, who revealed that Valorant has been ported over to consoles while still keeping the core of the game the same as its PC counterpart.
While the core Valorant experience will remain the same, with the console versions maintaining parity with the PC version when it comes to content and balance updates, there will be no cross play between platforms due to how each version is controlled. Simply put, controller players on console would have little chance against the precision aim of PC players.
However, you will have a shared inventory for cosmetics and progression across the two versions of the game, so there is no need to buy the pricey skins twice.
“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,” said Gylfason. “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.”
How To Play Valorant On Xbox And PS5
For anyone hoping to play Valorant on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S the good news is that it launches in beta form next week, the bad news is that it is initially only for select regions. Players in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan will be able to play the Valorant console beta starting June 14th at 1 pm PT, with a global roll out expected to come later should everything go smoothly. On a side note, I’m not sure why Riot feels the need to list the United Kingdom, considering it is a part of Europe.
If you want to play in the beta when it kicks off then you will need to register your interest on the official website.
Unfortunately there is no news on the rumoured Valorant mobile port that has been approved for release in China. However, with the Valorant Masters Shanghai still ongoing there is still hope for an announcement this weekend.