Summary
Valorant’s console release is finally upon us, as the hero shooter has shadowdropped onPlayStation 5andXbox Series X/S. This ends four years of PC exclusivity, withRiotfinally adapting the game for console players.
This surprise launch comes just a month after a beta release saw Valorant playable on console for the first time since its 2020 release. Now, anyone can pick it up on PlayStation and Xbox, as the game is out on both platforms now.
You Can Finally Play Valorant On Console
Much like the beta release, the full launch of Valorant will not allow crossplay between PC and console players. Instead, the console playerbase will be matched up with each other, with users on PlayStation and Xbox still able to play together. The PC playerbase will continue to play amongst themselves. Riot says this is in order to maintain Valorant’s “renowned standard for competitive integrity.”
The console release currently isn’t available in all regions, but has launched in North America, Europe, Japan, and Brazil. Riot says that it will “monitor other regions for further expansion”, opening up the possibility of a wider release in the future.
Much like the console release, Valorant will be free-to-play, so you should be able to download it now if you don’t have a PC but always wanted to give it a go.
Earlier this year, Valorant made the news after a clip of a streamer dealing with abusive players went viral. In response,Riot announced that it was clamping down on this behaviour, rolling out new penalties like hardware bans. This was put in place to stop abusers from circumventing their bans by making a new account. Given the wording here, we can assume that these bans will extend to console, now that the game is available on more platforms.
Valorant
WHERE TO PLAY
In Valorant, Riot Games brings its expertise of free-to-play online games to the FPS genre. It blends the best of hero shooters with the tactical discipline of CS:GO, creating a tense competitive title with a thriving esports scene.
