Riot Games has re-organised its leadership in its esports and entertainment segments.
Current esports president John Needham has been appointed president of publishing and esports, and will "create new integrated experiences" that will combine its esports, music, and creative publishing sectors.
Needham was hired as managing director of Europe in 2017, and has since held various leading roles. Prior to Riot, he was head of European publishing at Lionhead and CEO of Cryptic Studios.
Earlier this afternoon, Star Wars Galaxies rogue server SWG Legends hosted a massive event called SOEclipse, essentially the precise moment when the Legends Omega server has officially been alive longer than the original live servers under SOE. Players were invited to log in and join the devs in Cloud City for the festivities, countdown, and […]
Just one week after Valorant entered open beta testing on PS5, the game leaves beta testing behind. Version 1.0 has been released on the PlayStation Store and the full game is now available in the US, Canada, Europe, Brazil, and Japan. In typical Riot Games style, there was no announcement before Valorant’s full release, but the studio has now explained how the team will be approaching the game’s updates.
The Valorant post-launch update plan
Riot Games currently updaters Valorant every two weeks on all platforms. These patches sort out issues with game balance, fix bugs, or add QoL improvements. In addition to these, larger updates are released “a few times per year” that change an Agent’s entire kit, either nerfing their abilities or increasing their strength. Larger updates are only released at a time “that won’t affect active Pro play schedules.” Both of these types of updates look set to continue into the future.
One thing the developer did make clear was that “parity between PC and console isn’t necessarily guaranteed.” This is because PC and console platforms have unique needs. Different input methods mean players come up with different playstyles. Some agents are also better on one platform than they are on the other. These reasons are likely part of why Xbox and PS5 players can compete with each other but they cannot compete against PC players.
Valorant can now be downloaded from the PlayStation Store for free. Any progress players had made during the open beta period will be transferred to the full game. There’s also the opportunity to play on PC too as players keep their progress between all platforms with the exception of ranking.
Several Valorant Points packages are also available from the PlayStation Store. The premium currency can be used to purchase cosmetics, Radionite Points, and the premium tier of the Battle Pass.
For several years now, Riot Games has made noise — and more — about its desire to enter the MMO scene. And while the previous Runeterra-themed project is in a “reset” phase, the studio may be considering a different direction entirely. Behind closed doors, Riot’s been working on another game code-named Project T for at […]
Riot Games’ team shooter doesn’t have any plans to fade away soon. In fact, Valorant is expanding its reach thanks to this week’s console launch on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. This makes the first time that Riot’s had a live service console title, so that’s a notable piece of company history in the […]
Publisher and developer Riot Games has announced VALORANT is now available for home consoles, several years after its PC debut. VALORANT is now available for both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. While it does not support crossplay with PC, it does have synced inventory/progression with the original PC version. “We’ve received so much valuable […]
Activision Blizzard has reportedly approved the use of generative AI tools including Midjourney and Stable Diffusion for producing concept art and marketing materials.
This is according to a recent investigation by Wired, which obtained an internal memo from Activision's then chief technology officer Michael Vance that approved the use of these generative AI tools. Vance left the role in January 2024 but still works for Activision as a fellow software engineer.
A former employee claimed the publisher "assured its artists that generative AI would be used only for internal concepts, not final game assets" and that "AI would not be used to replace them."
Dota 2 and League of Legends voice actor Sam Mowry has died aged 64.
According to Mowry's wife and theatrical partner, Cindy McGean, he suffered a cardiac arrest over the weekend whilst being prepared for emergency surgery.
Mowry was a talented actor with an enviable credit list on stage and screen, as well as games like Dota 2, League of Legends, Infamous, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent's Alexander.
Riot Games' free-to-play hero shooter Valorant launches today for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, following its recent console open beta.
The game will not offer crossplay between its existing PC version and consoles "to maintain Valorant's renowned standard for competitive integrity", Riot has said.
In a press release issued today, Riot did at least promise future game updates would release simultaneously, so all additional maps and characters will arrive at the same time.
An open console beta is now available for Riot Games' hero shooter, Valorant.
The free-to-play 5v5 shooter was initially released for PC in 2020, but support for current-gen console systems finally rolled out last month through closed playtests.
Right now the open beta is limited to Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the US, and whilst console players will be able to team up with pals on the other console, there's currently no crossplay available with PC players. Sorry. Riot says it "believes strongly in competitive integrity, and this is the best way for us to keep the experience fair and consistent for players on both console and PC".
Valorant Console Out Now – and We’re Just Getting Started
Summary
Valorant is live now and free-to-play for everyone on Xbox Series X|S.
Regular balance patches are essential to creating a highly competitive landscape – especially for tactical shooters.
Valorant on Console receives the same regular balance updates that PC players experience – patches every two weeks.
Valorant is now live on Xbox Series X|S– with some serious benefits for Game Pass members. So grab four of your friends and hop into our 5v5 tactical shooter where you’ll need creative strategy, effective communication, and clutch aim to climb up the ranks.
But launch is only the beginning for Valorant on console – here’s how we’ll be supporting the game going forward.
Our Philosophy
Riot Games was founded with the idea that competition should be enjoyable at any level – whether it’s your first Valorant Competitive game after hitting level 20 or you’re grinding to Radiant, competing in our games should feel fair. Competitive integrity is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s one element that sets Valorant apart from other shooters on console.
One thing we’ve learned after 4+ years of Valorant on PC is that y’all are pretty cracked. The Valorant playerbase constantly innovates around the meta and comes up with new strats that surprise even us. Players consistently find new ability synergy between Agents, new line-ups, new flank watches, new ways to use a weapon, better smoke placements – you get the picture. Honestly, we love to see it. And now we’re so excited to welcome the console community into that space and see what you’ll come up with next.
Because of the ever-changing landscape, we’re constantly monitoring how our maps, Agents, weapons, and abilities are performing across different skill levels.
Sometimes an Agent might skew too powerful as players learn and master their abilities. Or maybe a map becomes one-sided as teams figure out how to optimize Agent utility. Or maybe a certain weapon becomes too strong as players hone their aim and learn how to better synergize with Agent abilities.
Over time, seemingly small imbalances can make a game start to feel stale and predictable. And that’s just not Valorant.
What That Means for Players
So, what does all this mean for the game long term? For our devs, it means their work is never done. For our players who aren’t familiar, it means live service and live balance.
We put out patches every two weeks across all platforms to address things like game balance, bug fixes, or QoL improvements. And a few times per year, we release larger updates to an Agent’s entire kit when there’s an opportunity to bolster or tamp down their strength. These kinds of updates typically aren’t needed very often and will only be implemented at a time that won’t affect active Pro play schedules.
So far, since Limited Beta started on console two months ago, Valorant has already seen four patch updates. We’re updating the game frequently, but paying attention to the unique needs of each platform. Balance parity between PC and console isn’t necessarily guaranteed.
Why? While the level of competition and skill-expression is the same for Valorant on PC and console, the game needs to be balanced independently between platforms. With different input methods (controller vs. mouse and keyboard) comes different playstyles. Some Agents shine on console but aren’t as effective on PC and vice versa. So our game developers have to test each extensively and adjust only when it makes sense.
Beyond game balance, Valorant features a rotating map pool for Competitive queue to ensure players get more variety while ranking up, and even occasionally to make changes to a map when it’s out of the competitive rotation.
Ultimately, it’s up to you – our passionate community – to let us know how we’re doing and show us how you’d level up the game. We’re so grateful to those of you who helped us prepare for this day by participating in our Limited and Open Beta periods, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. So hop on, queue up, and frag out.
Riot Games' free-to-play hero shooter Valorant launches today for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, following its recent console open beta.
The game will not offer crossplay between its existing PC version and consoles "to maintain Valorant's renowned standard for competitive integrity", Riot has said.
In a press release issued today, Riot did at least promise future game updates would release simultaneously, so all additional maps and characters will arrive at the same time.
An open console beta is now available for Riot Games' hero shooter, Valorant.
The free-to-play 5v5 shooter was initially released for PC in 2020, but support for current-gen console systems finally rolled out last month through closed playtests.
Right now the open beta is limited to Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the US, and whilst console players will be able to team up with pals on the other console, there's currently no crossplay available with PC players. Sorry. Riot says it "believes strongly in competitive integrity, and this is the best way for us to keep the experience fair and consistent for players on both console and PC".
Valorant Console Out Now – and We’re Just Getting Started
Summary
Valorant is live now and free-to-play for everyone on Xbox Series X|S.
Regular balance patches are essential to creating a highly competitive landscape – especially for tactical shooters.
Valorant on Console receives the same regular balance updates that PC players experience – patches every two weeks.
Valorant is now live on Xbox Series X|S– with some serious benefits for Game Pass members. So grab four of your friends and hop into our 5v5 tactical shooter where you’ll need creative strategy, effective communication, and clutch aim to climb up the ranks.
But launch is only the beginning for Valorant on console – here’s how we’ll be supporting the game going forward.
Our Philosophy
Riot Games was founded with the idea that competition should be enjoyable at any level – whether it’s your first Valorant Competitive game after hitting level 20 or you’re grinding to Radiant, competing in our games should feel fair. Competitive integrity is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s one element that sets Valorant apart from other shooters on console.
One thing we’ve learned after 4+ years of Valorant on PC is that y’all are pretty cracked. The Valorant playerbase constantly innovates around the meta and comes up with new strats that surprise even us. Players consistently find new ability synergy between Agents, new line-ups, new flank watches, new ways to use a weapon, better smoke placements – you get the picture. Honestly, we love to see it. And now we’re so excited to welcome the console community into that space and see what you’ll come up with next.
Because of the ever-changing landscape, we’re constantly monitoring how our maps, Agents, weapons, and abilities are performing across different skill levels.
Sometimes an Agent might skew too powerful as players learn and master their abilities. Or maybe a map becomes one-sided as teams figure out how to optimize Agent utility. Or maybe a certain weapon becomes too strong as players hone their aim and learn how to better synergize with Agent abilities.
Over time, seemingly small imbalances can make a game start to feel stale and predictable. And that’s just not Valorant.
What That Means for Players
So, what does all this mean for the game long term? For our devs, it means their work is never done. For our players who aren’t familiar, it means live service and live balance.
We put out patches every two weeks across all platforms to address things like game balance, bug fixes, or QoL improvements. And a few times per year, we release larger updates to an Agent’s entire kit when there’s an opportunity to bolster or tamp down their strength. These kinds of updates typically aren’t needed very often and will only be implemented at a time that won’t affect active Pro play schedules.
So far, since Limited Beta started on console two months ago, Valorant has already seen four patch updates. We’re updating the game frequently, but paying attention to the unique needs of each platform. Balance parity between PC and console isn’t necessarily guaranteed.
Why? While the level of competition and skill-expression is the same for Valorant on PC and console, the game needs to be balanced independently between platforms. With different input methods (controller vs. mouse and keyboard) comes different playstyles. Some Agents shine on console but aren’t as effective on PC and vice versa. So our game developers have to test each extensively and adjust only when it makes sense.
Beyond game balance, Valorant features a rotating map pool for Competitive queue to ensure players get more variety while ranking up, and even occasionally to make changes to a map when it’s out of the competitive rotation.
Ultimately, it’s up to you – our passionate community – to let us know how we’re doing and show us how you’d level up the game. We’re so grateful to those of you who helped us prepare for this day by participating in our Limited and Open Beta periods, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. So hop on, queue up, and frag out.
Společnost Riot Games na začátku tohoto roku oznámila, že její uznávaná free-to-play multiplayerová střílečka vyjde pro konzole v roce 2024.
Společnost Riot Games minulý měsíc oznámila, že její veleúspěšná multiplayerová střílečka Valorant konečně míří na konzole, a přestože nebylo oznámeno datum vydání, hra rychle vstoupila do beta verze na PS5 i Xboxu řady X/S. Nyní se zdá, že se hra blíží k překvapivému plnému vydání.
Tvrdí to prominentní leaker @eXtas1stv na Twitteru, který tvrdí, že probíhající omezená konzolová beta verze hry Valorant se chýlí ke konci a hra bude na konzole vypuštěna ještě tento týden, 26. července. Samotné studio Riot Games se dříve nevyjádřilo k tomu, kdy přesně střílečka vyjde pro konzole, kromě potvrzení, že vyjde někdy v tomto roce.
Hra Valorant je v současné době k dispozici na PC. Riot Games potvrdilo, že hra nebude mít podporu gyroskopu na PS5, protože ovladač pro Xbox tuto technologii nepodporuje a studio chce zachovat konkurenční paritu na všech platformách.
Výše zmíněný leaker také tvrdí, že Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 zamíří do Game Passu ještě tento týden. Více se o tom dočtete zde.
👀🔥 EXCLUSIVA eXtas1s 🚀
FPS WEEK 🔫
1. Lo imaginabais, pero ya puedo CONFIRMAR al 100% llegada de MW3 a Game Pass en PC y Consola el 24 de Julio (No Cloud).
2. Ahora en EXCLUSIVA… el 26/07, se acabaron las betas y llega el LANZAMIENTO GLOBAL de VALORANT para consolas. pic.twitter.com/a8KoLG15W3
— eXtas1s 🎮 Noticias & Rumores (@eXtas1stv) July 21, 2024
Somehow, a combination of League of Legends and Vampire Survivors has produced something strangely relaxing. The infamously intense MOBA is getting a new mode this summer - just temporarily, at least for now - called Swarm, taking characters from League and design elements of the recently formed "bullet heaven" wave survival genre. But the big twist is that for all the on-screen carnage - and there is a lot of on-screen carnage - the result is something strangely chilled out.
Like all things League of Legends these days, Swarm has been fleshed out with reams of worldbuilding backstory. The mode is set within the alternate universe world of Anima Squad - for those understandably not in the know, Riot Games themes its many of its paid-for character skins in League of Legends around alternate realities or short fictional stories, like the cyberpunk-themed PROJEKT skin line, or the K/DA skins that tied champions to Riot's virtual pop group of the same name.
The vibe with Anima Squad is a kind of peppy, futuristic anime-sci-fi, where a group of heroes - with animal-enhanced abilities - defend the remnants of earth from an alien invasion. For the new mode, Riot has built out that universe further, with a range of enemy types introduced from the invading Primordians - purple, shark-like grunts and their bosses of various sizes, who believe themselves to be the "white blood cells" wiping out the virus of humanity - and the mode's various maps set in different parts of a post-apocalyptic Runeterra.
This past week gave us no shortage of things to talk about, from just how strong the final year of the Nintendo Switch is looking to just how absurd the latest Acolyte controversy is. We’ve also got a hands-on with the gorgeous Dragon Quest 3 remake and impressions of the great mafia-themed immersive sim, Fallen Aces.…
This November, Netflix and Riot Games will release the second (and final) season of Arcane. The critically acclaimed animated series set in the world of League of Legends has been a massive success for Riot, and fans are already hoping for more adaptations in the aftermath of Arcane’s end. The rest of Runeterra (the Le…
We’re so excited to reveal that the electrifying, creative, and action-packed gameplay of Valorant is now coming to PS5. We can’t wait for you all to join us for our Limited Beta, which begins June 14!
Valorant is a 5v5 character-based tactical FPS, where precise gunplay meets unique Agent abilities. Valorant is more than just guns and bullets… I mean don’t get us wrong, you can definitely do some crazy outplays with your guns (five bullets, five enemies, five one-taps… no problem), but Valorant is so much more than that. In every game of Valorant you’ll get to choose an Agent from our continually growing, unapologetically global roster, and each Agent is armed with unique abilities.
Creativity meets clutch
Every Agent has a different kit that allows you to create opportunities for your gunplay to shine. No two Agents will play alike, just like no two montages will look the same in Valorant. When we initially began thinking about bringing Valorant to PS5, it was never about the technical aspects of building a new game on new platforms—it was about preserving the feeling of what it’s like to play Valorant. Once you start playing Valorant and get more familiar with the gameplay, there’s a special moment that will just click. Moments where you stand alone and outnumbered, but you find a way to overcome the odds and win the round while your teammates watch in silence—before erupting into cheers. These are the moments that make Valorant special, where creativity meets clutch. And we’re so happy that we can bring that experience to PS5 and welcome more players to our community.
The playing fields
In addition to unique Agents, abilities, and gunplay, Valorant also features an array of maps. Each one is a playground for you to showcase your creative thinking. There’s also different modes for you to try out, whether you want to play a quick match or climb the ranks, there’s something for everyone. Currently, for competitive queue, we have a map pool that changes every few months. But all of our existing maps are available in non-competitive modes. All the content that is currently available on Valorant PC, will be available on PS5, and whenever we ship a patch, we’ll be shipping it for everyone at the same time. So when a new map or Agent launches, everyone who plays Valorant will get it at the same time.
For the Beta
While we want to have everyone playing the same Valorant, we also know that with all the different modes, maps, Agents, and guns, there’s a lot to learn. So we’ll be releasing the following modes and maps during our Limited Beta to catch everyone up to speed.
Unrated, Swiftplay, Deathmatch:
June 14: Ascent, Bind, Haven, Abyss
June 25: Patch 9.00, Sunset
July 9: Lotus
July 23: Icebox
Team Deathmatch
All TDM maps
Customs
All maps
How to sign up
Valorant is all about how you want to play. From the Agents you pick, the gun you default to (we prefer the Vandal), to how you customize your collection. We’re excited to welcome you into our community, can’t wait to see all your creative clips, and are so ready to put Valorant in your hands.
Our Limited Beta will begin on June 14 in the following regions: USA, Canada, parts of Europe, and Japan. Throughout our Limited and Open Beta more regions will be made available and we’ll continue to update availability throughout each phase. You can sign up to join the Limited Beta now at beta.playvalorant.com. If your region isn’t listed, we encourage you to still sign up to show your interest, as we’ll be adding new regions over the course of our Beta.
That’s all from us for now. We can’t wait to see you in-game on June 14!
We’re so excited to reveal that the electrifying, creative, and action-packed gameplay of Valorant is now coming to PS5. We can’t wait for you all to join us for our Limited Beta, which begins June 14!
Valorant is a 5v5 character-based tactical FPS, where precise gunplay meets unique Agent abilities. Valorant is more than just guns and bullets… I mean don’t get us wrong, you can definitely do some crazy outplays with your guns (five bullets, five enemies, five one-taps… no problem), but Valorant is so much more than that. In every game of Valorant you’ll get to choose an Agent from our continually growing, unapologetically global roster, and each Agent is armed with unique abilities.
Creativity meets clutch
Every Agent has a different kit that allows you to create opportunities for your gunplay to shine. No two Agents will play alike, just like no two montages will look the same in Valorant. When we initially began thinking about bringing Valorant to PS5, it was never about the technical aspects of building a new game on new platforms—it was about preserving the feeling of what it’s like to play Valorant. Once you start playing Valorant and get more familiar with the gameplay, there’s a special moment that will just click. Moments where you stand alone and outnumbered, but you find a way to overcome the odds and win the round while your teammates watch in silence—before erupting into cheers. These are the moments that make Valorant special, where creativity meets clutch. And we’re so happy that we can bring that experience to PS5 and welcome more players to our community.
The playing fields
In addition to unique Agents, abilities, and gunplay, Valorant also features an array of maps. Each one is a playground for you to showcase your creative thinking. There’s also different modes for you to try out, whether you want to play a quick match or climb the ranks, there’s something for everyone. Currently, for competitive queue, we have a map pool that changes every few months. But all of our existing maps are available in non-competitive modes. All the content that is currently available on Valorant PC, will be available on PS5, and whenever we ship a patch, we’ll be shipping it for everyone at the same time. So when a new map or Agent launches, everyone who plays Valorant will get it at the same time.
For the Beta
While we want to have everyone playing the same Valorant, we also know that with all the different modes, maps, Agents, and guns, there’s a lot to learn. So we’ll be releasing the following modes and maps during our Limited Beta to catch everyone up to speed.
Unrated, Swiftplay, Deathmatch:
June 14: Ascent, Bind, Haven, Abyss
June 25: Patch 9.00, Sunset
July 9: Lotus
July 23: Icebox
Team Deathmatch
All TDM maps
Customs
All maps
How to sign up
Valorant is all about how you want to play. From the Agents you pick, the gun you default to (we prefer the Vandal), to how you customize your collection. We’re excited to welcome you into our community, can’t wait to see all your creative clips, and are so ready to put Valorant in your hands.
Our Limited Beta will begin on June 14 in the following regions: USA, Canada, parts of Europe, and Japan. Throughout our Limited and Open Beta more regions will be made available and we’ll continue to update availability throughout each phase. You can sign up to join the Limited Beta now at beta.playvalorant.com. If your region isn’t listed, we encourage you to still sign up to show your interest, as we’ll be adding new regions over the course of our Beta.
That’s all from us for now. We can’t wait to see you in-game on June 14!
Riot Games, the company best known for MOBA League of Legends, is bringing its free-to-play 5v5 hero shooter Valorant to consoles after four years of PC exclusivity. The game melds elements of hero shooters like Overwatch and tactical shooters like Counter-Strike, and it has a robust esports league, but console…
In a frank discussion about the "current state of player behaviour" in Valorant, Riot Games' head Anna Donlon has outlined upcoming changes designed "to make our community a better place".
Though Donlon acknowledges that the development team had no plans to "sanitise gaming" or suppress harmless banter, she said players should not be expected to "grow a thicker skin" when playing video games.
"There's no room in our community for the most egregious behaviours, and we're not going to compromise on that point," she said.
Riot games have committed to a series of new measures to curtail harassment and hate-speech in the Valorant community. In a video entitled ‘Keeping Our Community Healthy // Dev Updates,” studio head Anna Donlon took to Xitter to outline the new measures for the competitive FPS. Below is a graphic detailing the changes, which include new penalties such as hardware bans for offenders, and an expanded role for the game's Voice Evaluation tech, which monitors chat for bad behaviour. “If you want to make evil statements under the guise of '[naughty word SEO doesn't like being in the first paragraph] talk', you aren't welcome here,” writes the official Valorant account.
A few weeks after several clips of Valorant players harassing women via in-game chat went viral on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media sites, Riot Games has announced its plans to tackle the bad actors. In a seven-minute-long video posted to X, Valorant head Anna Donlon spoke about the team’s responsibility to…
If you play League of Legends and have roughly $450 burning a hole in your pocket then rejoice, then boy does developer Riot Games have the bundles for you. The new cosmetics in question are themed to LoL esports player Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, and even in a world of ludicrous microtransactions, players…
The already controversial decision to add the anti-cheat tool used in shooter Valorant to League of Legends has seemingly caused developers Riot Games even more of a headache. The studio have issued a lengthy assurance that - at least as far as they know - the new anti-cheat software isn’t causing players’ hardware to end up bricked, despite various reports of major issues after its introduction.
Within the last few years, video game industry layoffs have unfortunately become more commonplace. In 2023, we saw near-weekly layoffs across the entire industry. When the dust had settled, at least 6,000 jobs across publishers, developers, and other video game-related companies had been terminated. Sadly, it appears…
As 2024's big bad—Late Stage Capitalism—continues its grim rampage, some developers are looking to more innovative approaches to avoid the publishing industry’s self-sabotaging need for impossibly endless growth. Stormgate creator Frost Giant—a studio created by former StarCraft 2 devs—is following up on its recent…
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