Valorant
Valorant
Omen-Astra wallhack proves Valorant is a horror game
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant is a lore-heavy game, but game mechanics remain distinct from the storyline. But, the universes are clashing as Omen gains a wallhack into the galaxy of Astra. Riot Games has focused heavily on Valorant lore since the release. In 2023, the story is as immersive as any action Sci-Fi movie. There are dead family members, mysteriously lost characters, different galaxies, and whatnot. But Riot has kept it all separate …
Valorant
Oni 2.0 is coming to Valorant with a hot new katana
Fariha Bhatti
Prepare your wallets because Oni 2.0 is happening, and it’s all official — almost. Valorant inventory is stacked with exquisite weapons, but some are more popular than others. A few designs that ride has rolled out in Valorant are in a league of their own which is why newer skins fail to match their greatness. Thankfully, Riot frequently releases sequels of Valorant’s best skins. A 2.0 has happened for almost …
Valorant
Moist Esports has signed a Valorant team for $500,000
Olivia Richman
Moist Esports has announced that it is entering Valorant esports. Moist Esports has signed a NA Challengers team, BreakThru, and are planning to compete in Valorant esports. This is a surprise expansion for the popular esports organization, although there were rumors that co-owner Ludwig Ahgren wanted to form a Valorant team in the past. Now, Ludwig has taken to Twitter to tell the esports community that it has finally happened. …
Valorant
Valorant rank up is locked if you know this secret bug on Fracture
Fariha Bhatti
Fracture is a decent location, but it’s not precisely a favorite due to the high learning curve. Fracture’s defense is tricky, but clever players have discovered a game-breaking bug that can help. Fracture’s unique layout is a handful. You may be able to bag a few rounds on the attack, but defense is a different tale. Keeping attackers at bay on Fracture is no picnic because typical controllers aren’t the …
Valorant
Valorant replay is now possible, but it’s not what you think
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant doesn’t have a replay, but Aimlab’s Run it Back is the closest to replay players have. Valorant is no longer a baby-esports. It has a gigantic circuit that spreads worldwide, filtering out the best from every region and country. But unfortunately, the in-game practice system is poor and unsuited for advanced esports. After almost three years of release, Valorant still doesn’t have a replay system, the most crucial pillar …
Valorant
Bugged Fracture door cost pro Valorant team a round in VCT LOCK//IN
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant bugs are many, but some are so deadly that they can impact the round outcome of high-stake games. This fracture door bug during VCT LOCK//IN shows no bug is too small. Fracture is no longer a new map in Valorant, so there’s no excuse for a game-breaking bug to exist still. During a VCT LOCK//IN game between LOUD and Gen.G, a weird bug occurred, misleading one of the players. …
Valorant
How to tweak Valorant crosshair settings in 2023
Fariha Bhatti
If you’re new to Valorant or FPS genre in general, you will find yourself whiffing all shots in the game. However, tweaking your crosshair to personal preference can make a huge difference. Check out our best crosshair settings in Valorant. In Valorant, crosshair can make or break the game. Now, you can always copy the crosshair codes of pro players, but in our opinion, it’s best to find the settings …
Valorant
Valorant Reverie skin bundle is loud, yet understated
Fariha Bhatti
The new Valorant bundle Reverie is divine, quite literally. For the new skins, the developer has opted for holy stained glass. Riot Games recently added another time-limited rare bundle to Valorant dubbed VCT LOCK//IN capsule. Featuring four vibrant melees, the collection was an instant hit among fans, and Riot has more bangers in store. The latest skin addition is simple yet loud, perfect for skin fans who like bright colors …
Valorant patch 6.03 details serious Raze, Killjoy nerfs
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
It’s a bad day for Killjoy and Raze mains in Valorant. Patch 6.03 significantly nerfs the duelist and tweaks the viability of the sentinel in yellow. Valorant Episode 6 has been chiefly chaotic. Some significant changes have settled in the game, from the rank MMR system to network changes. But Riot has no plans to stop anytime soon, from the looks of patch 6.03. In the latest update, the developer …
Valorant pro pronounced dead 40 hours after earthquake
Olivia Richman
Valorant
Pro Valorant player Gizem “Luie” Harmankaya was one of the causalities the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria left in its wake. On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit parts of Turkey and Syria in the early morning, lasting two minutes. A second earthquake hit nine hours later, a 7.5 magnitude. Between the two massive earthquakes, 34,000 lives were lost. More bodies — and survivors — are expected to …
Valorant community unhappy with VCT LOCK//IN co-streamer list
Olivia Richman
Valorant
Big Valorant content creators are calling out Riot after they were left off the list for the VCT LOCK//IN watch party. Like most big esports events, only certain streamers will have permission to co-stream the VCT LOCK//IN watch party. This means that they can show the event on their stream to watch with their viewers. The list of content creators given this privilege usually includes pro players and popular streamers, …
Fan-favorite Swiftplay game mode is now permanent in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
When Riot rolled out a burning hot patch, 5.12, everyone was fixated on Chamber’s nerf, and the new Swiftplay mode slipped into the background. But it’s still the most popular and will now stay in Valorant full-time. Valorant currently has five game modes: Competitive, Unrated, Spike Rush, slot for PVP, and Deathmatch, along with a Practice Range. Overall, Valorant has nine modes, if you include Snowball fight, Replication, and Escalation …
These two Valorant agents are still the best to climb ranks
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant community collectively agrees that Episode 6 is the toughest one so far. But, these two agents can help climb the rank ladder. If you’re a regular Valorant player, you’d have noticed that Project: A characters still reign all categories. A few new agents have managed to break the monotony, but other than that, the original lineup is everyone’s go-to pick. Stats reveal that two agents have stayed a staple …
Kay/O anti-flash bug is so powerful that players are confused
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant agent Kay/O has been at the center of many “vision-after-death” bugs, but this recent one on Haven has players confused. Is it a flash-related bug or an intended mechanic? Valorant, like any other FPS game, has its fair share of bugs. Some are negligible, but others are game-breaking. Thankfully, Riot fixes them reasonably quickly — but some bugs take a bit more work. They appear like your regular in-game …
Valorant VCT LOCK//IN bundle has the greatest knife melee ever
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games is taking in-game cosmetics to another level by introducing VCT LOCK//IN Capsule, dubbed Misericórdia. The Valorant developer recently confirmed VCT-partnered team skins, and while they are still under wraps, Riot has unveiled a brand new capsule on a similar beat. VCT LOCK//IN Misericórdia features colorful knives, nodding at the teams participating in VALORANT Champions Tour 2023: LOCK//IN Brazil. The year’s biggest Valorant tournament so far is approaching, and …
These are the must-know callouts for new Valorant map Lotus
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant’s latest map Lotus is still new, which means players will need at least a month to familiarize themselves with its complex layout. Our callouts on Lotus should help you get started. Riot Games brings Valorant’s iconic map-specific gimmicks back in Lotus, but in a surprising twist, there are too many of them to handle. Besides its large size, Lotus comes with revolving doors, a silent drop, a breakable wall, …
After Raze and Killjoy ship, Valorant calls Sage “mommy”
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant recently confirmed that Killjoy and Raze were queer in a romantic post of the two sharing a kiss. Now, the developer is feeding the community by calling Sage “middle-seat mommy.” The Valorant community is deeply in touch with the game’s lore. Each map and agent is connected with a deeper storyline of the mirrorverse and the dispute after the Radianite. But it’s not all about bloodshed and betrayal. Lore …
The best Valorant player in the world is 14 years old
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
A 14-year-old Valorant player has proved that age is just a number by claiming the top spot on the Radiant leaderboard. Valorant’s rank ladder is no picnic. Climbing from one rank to another has become even more challenging in Episode 6, but skilled players won’t feel a difference. However, things get interesting in Immortal and Radiant, where rank isn’t enough. Instead, the best players in the world compete for the …
Valorant VCT partnered team skins to be released 2023
William Davis
Valorant
VCT partnered team skins might come to Valorant sooner than players expect. Data miners have discovered early indications that team skins are in development by Riot Games, who is yet to confirm the information. Valorant has a new look in 2023. The competitive side of the game has been reorganized to make room for the International Leagues. These are three on-LAN leagues covering different regions with 10 permanent teams each, …
Tarik is at the bottom of his own Pro City ranking
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Pro City by Tarik may have sounded crazy initially, but it’s in full swing, and players love it. But the creator himself is repping a position at the bottom of the leaderboard. Valorant’s tragic ranked situation has led many to turn away from the game entirely. Those who stayed true to the game had their loyalty tested when crypto-throwers plagued the queues with wagering, win trading, and match-fixing. This situation …
Riot Games has long looked to expand its footprint beyond the success of popular MOBA League of Legends, and one of its biggest successes to date in this regard is the tactical shooter, Valorant. Blending traditional first-person shooter elements with unique and flashy hero abilities, Valorant seeks to combine the best attributes of tactical shooters and hero shooters into one cohesive experience.
Based on player feedback, the game has largely succeeded in accomplishing those aims. It’s not an easy balance, and it’s one that is arguably still tenuous, but Riot Games seems to be doing as good a job of it as most fans have hoped for.
What type of game is Valorant?
Valorant is a first-person shooter that represents a unique blend of the tactical shooter and hero shooter subgenres. There are some games that represent similar gameplay elements, but not many that offer the exact experience that Valorant puts forward to players.
The tactical shooter genre is often considered to have been defined by the release of the original Counter-Strike, a multiplayer mod for famed single-player PC title Half-Life that later became a standalone game of its own. While most multiplayer FPS games to that point emphasized prolonged battles between opposing players zipping around the game at high speeds, Counter-Strike slowed things down significantly and made players much more susceptible to each other’s firepower, requiring players to take a more tactical approach to play.
That slower and more tactical approach, combined with the lightning-quick nature of action when it does occur, proved reliably popular. That popularity can still be seen today with the ongoing success enjoyed by the Counter-Strike franchise, and it’s this gameplay type that represents the core of Valorant. It’s no accident that former Counter-Strike developers were drafted by Riot Games to help create Valorant during the game’s formative stages.
What differentiates Valorant from CS and other tactical shooters it that each of the game’s characters, called agents, wield a number of unique abilities. Some are typical for tactical shooters, like flashbangs and smokes, while others are wildly different, such as an ability that transports two players to an isolated dueling arena for its duration.
These agent abilities are more reminiscent of hero shooters, a subgenre that arguably got its start with the Team Fortress games but has best been popularized by Blizzard title Overwatch. The abilities, combind with the tactical considerations that are at the core of Valorant, separate it from most any other FPS experience available for play.
How does Valorant esports work?
Like many other popular competitive shooters, Valorant does have a thriving esports scene. That scene is differentiated by the way it’s run and controlled by developer and publisher Riot Games. Riot uses a model based on the success of its League of Legends esports scene, which sees the globe’s competitive players and team’s separated by region. These regions play out their own competitions in their sections of the world before coming together at regular intervals for international tournaments featuring the best teams from each individual region.
While League of Legends once boasted a variety of regions and regional types, Riot sought to simplify that model when setting up esports for Valorant. The game has only a handful of major regions, and these regions are held as largely equitable, each sending their best teams to international events leading up to the year-end VALORANT Champions event.
