Valorant
Valorant
How to join Tarik’s private Valorant Discord
Fariha Bhatti
As if cheaters and smurfs weren’t enough headache, Valorant has a brand new problem in crypto-throwers. Valorant streamer Tarik “tarik” Celik has a solution of 10-player private leagues, but it doesn’t solve the predicament in the long run. Valorant ranked is plagued with all sorts of problems, but Riot makes notes of solving them immediately. However, crypto-betting is in full swing, and Riot is yet to comment. But players are …
Valorant
Fan-made medieval Breeze looks like CSGO map Inferno
Fariha Bhatti
A Valorant player has reimagined Breeze in Medieval Engineers, causing it to resemble multiple different CSGO maps. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a classic shooter, but it’s not medieval-old. Still, a Valorant player’s rework of Breeze in the Medieval Engineers game looks like an amalgam of Inferno and Cobblestone, the two iconic maps. Breeze is a modern location set on a picturesque island. Rock music, cutting-edge tech, and greenery surround the …
Valorant
Valorant players are exploiting Lotus’ broken doors
Fariha Bhatti
Lotus is a new map in Valorant, which is why players had expected glitches. But its rotating door is actually littered with bugs. Valorant’s map nine is complex and challenging, but players are eventually finding their footing. Since it’s still new, bugs were given. However, players have noticed game-breaking glitches with Lotus’ revolving doors. The loud barriers are providing select agents with wall hacks. Right before patch 6.01, Riot toned …
Valorant
Valorant agent Killjoy’s Nanoswarm bug is a menace on Lotus
Fariha Bhatti
Whenever Riot releases a new Valorant map, Killjoy is often the first to bug out. On map nine Lotus, her Nanoswarms have become a serious threat to the defenders. The latest Valorant map, Lotus, is a labyrinth. Crammed with rat corners, alleys, and secret passageways, Lotus won’t make it easy for defenders to hold ground. As if the confusing layout wasn’t enough, Killjoy’s toolkit is acting unintentionally against the defenders. …
Valorant
Valorant pro ShahZaM claims Sentinels picked shroud only for “hype”
Fariha Bhatti
It’s never a dull day in North American Valorant, where drama and beef is always brewing. This time around, former Sentinel skipper Shahzeb “ShahZaM” Khan is at the center, claiming shroud was picked merely for the “hype.” shroud had long ago stepped away from competitive play, switching to streaming as his full-time career. But, he returned to competition in a jaw-dropping announcement that set the Valorant community ablaze. In 2022, shroud …
Valorant
sinatraa is returning to pro Valorant after two years in 2023
Fariha Bhatti
Former Overwatch pro and Valorant star Jay “sinatraa” Won is returning to Valorant in 2023, but it’s not in Sentinels. Sentinels’ former lead initiator, sinatraa is preparing to resume his pro Valorant career after a hiatus of two years. The popular streamer and pro player was barred from official Valorant events in May 2021 following sexual assault allegations. After two years, sinatraa is set to pick up where he left off, …
Valorant
Ranking up in Valorant Episode 6 will be easier, but only if you’re good
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant developer is changing the rank ladder progress, helping deserving players to gain more Rank Rating (RR). Whoever said Riot is purposefully squeezing players into low-rank queues was wrong. Instead, the Valorant developer is keen on streamlining the ladder by removing stringent rank-up requirements. So, in Episode 6, skilled players should find it much easier to get their desired rank badge without teammates hindering their progress. Previously, ranking up in …
Valorant
Here are all 7 Valorant maps in rotation for Episode 6
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant Episode 6 Act 1 has begun, and with it, a new season for the rank grind is here. Here are all seven playable maps in the current act. Valorant Episode 6 will run for the next six months, meaning players must learn the existing map pool by heart to stay on top of their game. However, unlike Project A, Riot Games has taken a new approach to the map …
Here’s how crypto-betting in Valorant is ruining ranked games
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant throwers now have a solid reason to ruin ranked games and it’s even more dangerous. Every online multiplayer game has a litany of problems like cheating, griefing, and trolling— and Valorant is no exception. Thankfully, Riot is in close touch with the community, which is why severe problems get resolved quickly. But, still, savvy players are relentless in their quest to ruin games for others. Players typically throw games …
Valorant agent Omen’s red one-way smoke removed in patch 6.0
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant patch 6.0 brings many changes, but Split’s layout tweaks and an Omen nerf take the front row. Each Valorant episode brings some sort of meta-shift. Sometimes it’s through new characters and maps, and other times it’s a complete economic overhaul. In Episode 5, Riot announced map rotation, meaning Split is returning — but there’s a twist. Minor tweaks will change how the map plays out. Paired with an Omen …
Valorant bundle Araxys features futuristic headshot machines
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant Episode 6 Act 1 is packed with new and exciting content, but the Araxys skin bundle undoubtedly steals the spotlight. Each Valorant episode begins with either a new agent or map and a brand-new skin bundle with over-the-top animations. Riot sticks with a theme for each phase, which is also evident in the skin collection for the said episode. This time, the game developer is feeling futuristic. The battle …
Here’s your first look at Valorant map Lotus with a new gimmick
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant map nine, dubbed Lotus, has officially been unveiled with a brand new gimmick that would spice up gameplay. Valorant map Pearl entered the pool without special features, a first for FPS players. Gimmicks set each map apart from another — think teleporters and ropes — adding a fun gameplay twist to the layout. Riot is bringing them back in map nine, Lotus. Set in India, Lotus is a disputed …
Valorant EP 6 cinematic hints at an Indian map with three sites
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Fans may think Haven is a bit too much to handle, but Riot is sticking to the unique map plan — at least if the Valorant episode 6 cinematic is to be believed. Typically, a 5v5 FPS map is set with two sites divided by a middle area. But Riot has been experimenting with unique layouts, and most of them have been successful. Bind’s no mid, and Fracture’s split spawn …
How to get free VP in Valorant from Riot in 2023
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant may have pricey skins, but Riot is being generous. Right now, being nice and creative can get you some extra Valorant points for free! Valorant skins are expensive but compared to cosmetics in other virtual games, they are reasonably priced. However, not everyone can afford luxurious skin bundles, and Riot is well aware. To make them accessible for all, the developer introduced the Night. Market, which brings individual guns …
Valorant beats CSGO as the most-watched game in 2022
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive versus Valorant discussions had (thankfully) died down, but stats have stirred gossip, showing that Riot’s FPS was better than Valve’s in viewership. You can’t have two kings in the same territory. CSGO and Valorant have proven that. The fan wars are as old as Valorant itself. Since 2020, keyboard warriors have been defending their favorite FPS game. Is it Valorant or CSGO? The debate never settled. …
Best ways to boost your Valorant FPS settings in 2023
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant’s new episode will let players take another shot at opening their desired rank, but it’s crucial to have the best crosshair and decent FPS before you begin your grind. Riot’s shooter favors those with a crisp aim, optimal gear, and sky-rocketing FPS. Now, frames can’t win you games, but they give you an advantage over those with slow computers. Instant delivery of information allows you to take timely action, …
Riot’s new teaser for Valorant points at night mode map
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant episode 6 act 1 is on the horizon, which means a new map and Split’s return. Riot Games may have dropped a teaser for map 9, and it’s not what fans had expected. Valorant map nine is coming soon, so a cryptic teaser on the official Riot handle isn’t too surprising. What’s surprising is the voiceover and overall aesthetic of the potential map. It’s highly possible that Valorant’s next …
Here are the Valorant settings used by yay in 2023
William Davis
Valorant
Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker is arguably the best Valorant player of 2022. yay’s confidence and aggression make him a fearsome opponent that not many know how to handle. Pro players approach the game from a different angle than casual players, and these differences are shown even in the settings. The Valorant settings used by yay speak of his expertise. yay started his professional career as a Counter-Strike player, but he transitioned …
This hidden Cypher camera trick lets you spy on enemies in spawn
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The newly buffed Cypher is finally appearing in more Valorant games. And this new overpowered Cypher camera lineup on Fracture shows that the Morrocan Sentinel is back in the game. Cypher’s Spy Cam is powerful. Even when he wasn’t buffed, the camera was the only tool in his kit players picked him for. Unlike any other ability in Valorant, Cypher could expose enemies and their tactics with just a click. …
Valorant can now be played in China
William Davis
Valorant
Valorant is now playable in China. The National Press and Publication Administration announced the list of games approved ahead of 2023 and included Riot Games’ shooter. The game, however, is listed as Fearless Covenant. Valorant is finally debuting in China two years after its release. The game went through China’s exhaustive approval process and will become available for players in the country soon. In China, videogames must be approved by …
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.
