Riot Games has created an intense, action-packed team-based first-person tactical hero shooter called VALORANT that delivers an intense first-person experience for tactical hero shooters, known as first Light. Set on a global stage, players must use adaptive teamwork and precise gunplay to find and seize opportunities in a competitive environment. It takes place following this monumental event which profoundly changed Earth and bestowed specific individuals with extraordinary powers known as Radiants.
Each player chooses an Agent, an original character with their own story and special abilities that is special to them, to play as. There are four roles a character may fill: Duelists, Initiators, Controllers and Sentinels. Each role provides unique weaponry as well as Signature Ability charges which unlock as players advance levels.
Riot Games offers a free game called Kingdom Credits that players can earn and spend by completing daily and weekly quests, winning matches and participating in special events; alternatively they can purchase in-game currency using real money.
Players can customize their avatar in several ways, including changing the look of weapons and gear. Unlike some free-to-play shooters, Riot Games’ game does not feature loot boxes; rather, Riot plans on releasing gun cosmetics via the store and offering rewards with each act of play.
Riot Games currently offers four maps and six Agents to choose from in Agent Hunt, but is open to adding more in future updates. Their development team also promises that different gameplay options such as Search and Destroy and Spike Rush modes may also be added into Agent Hunt.
At a match, players are divided into two teams of five players each and must win 13 rounds either as Attackers or Defenders to claim victory in the game. A round begins when one team plants a fuse at an allocated site on the map, prompting its opponent to either demolish it or defend against it.
Esports for this game is currently in its early stages, yet several professional teams already compete in regional LAN tournaments for real money prizes. Riot Games manages the Champions Tier while remaining teams qualify through Circuit Point Standings or Last Chance Qualifiers.