22
Riot Games spent an entire
decade building and supporting
a single game, the 5v5 MOBA
League of Legends, and turned
it into an enormously successful
PC game and e-sports draw. But
now Riot is finally moving on with
some new projects: a couple of
League spinoffs, and something
entirely different.
That’s Valorant... and while it’s
a new franchise for Riot, this is
a pick’n’mix of concepts from a
wide array of popular FPS titles.
The biggest inspiration comes
from Counter-Strike, as each
match spans a series of shortrounds (best of 25!) and you’ll
spend your in-match funds to
buy weapons before each round.
The objective-led team modes
are also in line with Valve’s
enduring shooter.
But there are also distinctive
hero characters like in Overwatch,
each with unique, potentially
game-changing abilities. The
eight heroes in the starting
line-up will include Phoenix,
a flame-wielding warrior who
can launch fireballs, and Sage
with her healing orbs.
The result is a 5v5 shooter
that’s poised to be the nextfree-to-play PC sensation: a
game with tension but also OTT
twists, with that hybrid approach
ultimately setting it apart.
Even amid a crowded field
of freemium shooters Valorant
has plenty of momentum, given
Riot’s long-term mindset. The
game will gradually add new
heroes and maps over time,
with optional skins and such
(like Fortnite) to keep pulling back
fans, and is sure to have a strong
e-sports push behind it. It’s due
out this summer, and Riot says
it’ll run solidly even on lower-end
laptops and older desktops.FIRST LOOK VALORANT PC
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