Valorant has launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in open beta form, Riot has announced.
The free-to-play team-based shooter already enjoys enormous popularity on PC, where it launched first in 2020. But there are some key differences between the PC version and this console port.
On PC, hip-fire is Valorant’s primary shooting mode, and aim-down-sights (ADS) is a secondary, supporting mode. For the console port, Riot created Focus, a new shooting mode that functions much like hip-fire but with reduced sensitivity.
In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft said Valorant on console lets players shoot from the hip whenever they need speed in moving both their camera and aim (think: peeking around corners and dodging) but with the ability to utilize Focus mode whenever they need to pull off a precise, calibrated headshot.
“Some of the Agent abilities have been adapted for the new input controls, and various tunings across the board have all contributed to the team’s number one priority: capturing the dynamic pacing and mechanically expressive feel of the original,” Microsoft continued.
Because of this difference, Valorant does not feature crossplay between PC and console (crossplay is available between PS5 and Xbox Series X and S). “This is primarily due to a focus on maintaining the title’s competitive integrity, given the control changes required to bring the game to console,” Microsoft explained.
There is, however, shared cross-progression across PC and console, which means your inventory carries over. So, if you unlock skins on PC or console, they’ll work across the two. Similarly, battle pass progression carries across both versions.
The open beta comes ahead of the full console launch, which on Xbox includes bonuses for Game Pass subscribers. In the open beta and the full launch, Game Pass members unlock every Agent released so far, as well as any new additions on day one.
In addition to console ports, Riot announced in 2021 that it is working on a mobile version of Valorant. Riot promised that the mobile version would provide “the same competitive Valorant experience” currently available on PC. However, news on this version has been scarce since its initial announcement.
Last October, Bloomberg reported that Valorant had 28 million monthly players, with 70% of the player-base belonging to Gen Z.
In our review of Valorant, IGN wrote: “Valorant is a clever tactical hero shooter that’s plenty deep and a lot of fun to master.”
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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