Save file · Valorant
Valorant
First release on record 02 Jun 2020 · first-person shooter, tactical shooter
VALORANT is a free-to-play 5v5 tactical shooter from Riot Games. Two teams of five Agents fight one life per round, first to 13, planting or defusing the Spike with guns and unique abilities. It launched on Windows PC on 2 June 2020 and on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 2 August 2024, with Australia and New Zealand console servers opening on 23 September 2026. The download is $0 from Riot, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox. Optional US VALORANT Points packs run from $4.99 to $99.99, and the Premium Battlepass is 1000 VP. It suits ranked online team play for people who accept a live connection, a Riot Account, and on PC Riot Vanguard. ESRB rates it Teen; PEGI and USK rate it 16.
Researched from the official pages · Updated
| First release | 2 June 2020 on Windows PC |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Developer | Riot Games |
| Publisher | Riot Games |
| Price | Free; US VP packs $4.99–$99.99; Premium Battlepass 1000 VP · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Modes | Online 5v5 (10 players); Deathmatch 12; Competitive, Unranked, Spike Rush |
| Age rating | ESRB Teen; PEGI 16; USK 16 |
| PC needs | Windows 10/11 64-bit, 4 GB RAM, DirectX 11, Intel i3-540 or AMD Athlon 200GE minimum |
| Crossplay | PlayStation 5 with Xbox Series X|S; not with PC |
Where can I play VALORANT, and when did each version come out?
VALORANT is free on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and every login needs a Riot Account. Riot set a 2 June 2020 PC launch for most of the world after Closed Beta queues ended on 28 May 2020. Vietnam, India, and the Middle East were not ready on that day. PlayStation, Xbox, and Xbox Wire date the console release at 2 August 2024 for the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Brazil. Riot opened PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in Australia and New Zealand on 23 September 2026, with the Sydney server live from 10:00 AEST. PlayStation states the game is not on PlayStation 4. The Xbox store lists Xbox Series X|S only.
Can PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players queue together?
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S can match each other. PC cannot join those console matches. Inventory follows one Riot Account across PC and console: account level, VALORANT Points, Kingdom Credits, Radianite Points, recruited Agents, weapon skins, Battle Pass ownership and progress, and daily and weekly missions. Ranked MMR does not. Crossplay is region-locked, so NA cannot party with EU. Xbox also needs the platform crossplay setting on. Keyboard and mouse on console, including spoofing, is a ban. DualSense vibration is supported on PS5. Riot's console access guide repeats that content is shared while ranked progression is not, and that VALORANT console crossplay excludes PC. Game Pass Agent unlocks apply on Xbox, not on PlayStation.
What does VALORANT cost on US stores, and what do VALORANT Points buy?
The base game is $0 on Epic, Xbox, PlayStation, and Riot's download. PlayStation Plus is not required to play online. Xbox Game Pass is optional and unlocks all current Agents, day-one new Agents, and a 20% match XP boost on Xbox, not on PlayStation. US PlayStation and Xbox stores on 29 October 2026 sold VP packs from $4.99 for 475 VP to $99.99 for 11000 VP, with no sale. The Premium Battlepass costs 1000 VP; extra levels cost 300 VP and are not refundable. Select skins cost 875 VP, Deluxe 1275 VP, and Premium 1775 VP. New Agents stay VP-gated for 28 days unless a recruitment event or Game Pass applies.
What PC hardware and anti-cheat does VALORANT require?
Riot's publisher specs target 30 FPS at an Intel i3-540 or AMD Athlon 200GE with Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 220, 4 GB of RAM, and 1 GB of VRAM on a discrete GPU. Recommended 60 FPS hardware is an Intel i3-4150 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 or AMD Radeon R7 240. The OS is Windows 10 64-bit build 19041 or later, or Windows 11 64-bit, with DirectX 11 and SSE 4.2 or AVX. ARM is unsupported. Windows 11 also needs TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot. Cloud gaming and virtual machines are unsupported. PC matches require Riot Vanguard, a kernel-mode driver. Uninstalling VALORANT does not remove Vanguard. Patch 11.02 on 29 July 2025 moved the engine from Unreal Engine 4.27 to Unreal Engine 5.3.
How do matches and Competitive work?
Standard play is 5v5, 10 players, one life per round, first to 13, with sides swapping after 12 rounds. Attackers plant the Spike; defenders deny the plant or defuse. Riot lists Competitive, Unranked, Deathmatch, and Spike Rush. PlayStation says Deathmatch uses 12 players. Competitive unlocks at Account Level 20. Ranks are Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Ascendant, Immortal, and Radiant, with three tiers except Radiant. Parties of 4 cannot queue Competitive. Immortal 1 and above may only solo, duo, or five-stack. Rank does not decay. Xbox Series X|S lists 4K, 60 fps, and 120 fps.
What age ratings apply to VALORANT?
ESRB rates VALORANT Teen for Blood, Language, and Violence, plus Users Interact and In-Game Purchases. PEGI rates it 16 for strong, sustained violence toward human characters and notes paid cosmetics and content passes. USK rates the PC version 16 under section 14 of the German Youth Protection Act, classified on 5 March 2020 as number 48010/20, with no extra descriptors on the listing. ESRB describes team matches with firearms and abilities, blood spurts on hits, and frenetic gunfire.
What did patch 13.09 change?
Patch 13.09 on 27 October 2026 added Duelist Agent Hush from Guangdong, China, on all platforms, with Displacement, Flashbulb, Flow, and Suspension. Riot also smoothed Warden recoil, named Haste and Snapshot as official buffs, and noted Performance Score tuning for the new Agent. Console-only notes include controller vibration on Miks abilities.
Release dates by platform
| Platform | Date | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | 02 Jun 2020 | most of the world | Released |
| PlayStation 5 | 02 Aug 2024 | United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Brazil | Released |
| Xbox Series X|S | 02 Aug 2024 | United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Brazil | Released |
| PlayStation 5 | 23 Sep 2026 | Australia and New Zealand | Released |
| Xbox Series X|S | 23 Sep 2026 | Australia and New Zealand | Released |
Prices and editions
| Store | Edition | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Games Store (US) | VALORANT | Free | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | VALORANT | Free | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | VALORANT | Free | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | 475 VALORANT Points | $4.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | 1000 VALORANT Points (50 Bonus + 950) | $9.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | 2050 VALORANT Points (150 Bonus + 1900) | $19.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | 3650 VALORANT Points (325 Bonus + 3325) | $34.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | 5350 VALORANT Points (600 Bonus + 4750) | $49.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| PlayStation Store (US) | 11000 VALORANT Points (1500 Bonus + 9500) | $99.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | 475 VALORANT Points | $4.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | 1000 VALORANT Points (50 bonus + 950) | $9.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | 1900 (+150 Bonus Points) | $19.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | 3650 VALORANT Points (325 bonus + 3325) | $34.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | 5350 VALORANT Points (600 bonus + 4750) | $49.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | 11000 VALORANT Points (1500 bonus + 9500) | $99.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
Prices change often; each is the store's own price on the day shown.
PC requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit (build 19041 or later) or Windows 11 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit (build 19041 or later) or Windows 11 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel i3-540 or AMD Athlon 200GE; ARM not supported | Intel i3-4150 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200; ARM not supported |
| Memory | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Graphics | Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 220 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 or AMD Radeon R7 240 |
| Video memory | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Storage | — | — |
| DirectX | 11 | 11 |
From the publisher's own page, read 29 Oct 2026; summarised in our own words.
Modes and features
| Feature | On record | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| single-player campaign | Not listed; Riot frames the game as a five-player team shooter | Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| online multiplayer | 10 players in 5v5; PlayStation also lists 12-player Deathmatch | Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| local or split-screen | Not listed on PlayStation or Xbox store pages | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| crossplay | PlayStation 5 with Xbox Series X|S in the same region; not with PC | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| cross-progression | Shared inventory and Battle Pass on one Riot Account; ranked MMR is separate per platform | Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| controller support | Required on console (DualSense or Xbox controller); mouse and keyboard on console is unsupported and spoofing is a ban; DualSense vibration supported on PS5 | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| online play required | Yes; PlayStation lists online play required | PlayStation 5 |
| PlayStation Plus | Not required to play online | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox Game Pass | Optional; unlocks all current and new Agents plus a 20% match XP boost on Xbox, not on PlayStation | Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC |
| supported languages (PlayStation Store) | 13 voice, 17 screen | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox display | 4K Ultra HD, 60 fps+, 120 fps; online multiplayer 10-10 | Xbox Series X|S |
| Riot Vanguard | Kernel-mode anti-cheat required during PC play; uninstalling VALORANT does not remove it | Windows PC |
| Riot Account | Required to log in on every platform | Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
DLC and expansions
| Name | Released | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 475 VALORANT Points | — | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| 1000 VALORANT Points (50 bonus + 950) | — | $9.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| 2050 VALORANT Points (150 bonus + 1900) | — | $19.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| 3650 VALORANT Points (325 bonus + 3325) | — | $34.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| 5350 VALORANT Points (600 bonus + 4750) | — | $49.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| 11000 VALORANT Points (1500 bonus + 9500) | — | $99.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Premium Battlepass | — | 1000.00 VP · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Battlepass level skip | — | 300.00 VP · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Select Edition weapon skin | — | 875.00 VP · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Deluxe Edition weapon skin | — | 1275.00 VP · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Premium Edition weapon skin | — | 1775.00 VP · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
Age ratings
| Board | Rating | Content descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB | T for Teen | Blood, Language, Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases |
| PEGI | PEGI 16 | Violence, In-Game Purchases |
| USK | USK 16 | — |
FAQ
Do I need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass to play?
No. PlayStation Plus is not required for online VALORANT. Xbox Game Pass is optional and grants Agent unlocks and a 20% match XP boost on Xbox only.
Can I use a mouse and keyboard on PlayStation 5 or Xbox?
No. Riot does not support mouse and keyboard on console, and spoofing them is a ban. Console play is built for a DualSense or Xbox controller.
Is there a single-player campaign or local split-screen?
Riot's welcome guide frames VALORANT as a five-player team shooter. PlayStation and Xbox list online multiplayer and do not list a campaign or local split-screen.
Which languages does the PlayStation Store list?
The PlayStation Store lists 13 voice languages and 17 screen languages, including English, Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, and Spanish (Mexico) on both lists.
Can I play VALORANT on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One?
No. PlayStation states PS5 only, not PS4. The Xbox store lists Xbox Series X|S.
Our take
VALORANT suits players who want free, always-online 5v5 ranked shooting with Agents and four teammates on voice. Pick Windows PC through Riot or the Epic Games Store for mouse aim if you accept Vanguard. Pick PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S for DualSense or Xbox controller play and console crossplay. Confirm your console region is NA, EU, JP, BR, or OCE, that friends share that region, and that you do not need PC-console matches. Game Pass is optional on Xbox for Agent unlocks and does not apply on PlayStation.
Best for: Players who want free 5v5 ranked tactical shooting with Agents; Friends on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in the same region; PC players willing to run Riot Vanguard.
Not for: Anyone who needs offline or single-player play; Players who want PC and console in the same match; Households that cannot accept a kernel-mode anti-cheat on Windows.
Which version: Download the free client on the platform you already use: Windows PC through Riot or the Epic Games Store for mouse-and-keyboard play; PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S for controller play with console crossplay. Xbox Game Pass is optional for Agent unlocks on Xbox.
Built only from the official facts above. We don't review games we haven't played, and nothing here is paid.
Sources
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Epic Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Sony Interactive Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Microsoft read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- PEGI read 29 Oct 2026
- USK read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Xbox / Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
- Riot Games read 29 Oct 2026
The record
Every line has its source and the day it was read- Dates on record
- 02 Jun 2020 Wikidata · read 26 Oct 2026
- Developer
- Riot GamesWikidata · role not verified
- Publishers on record
- Riot Games, Tencent Wikidata
- Genres
- first-person shooter, tactical shooter, hero shooter Wikidata
- Modes
- multiplayer online game Wikidata
- Age ratings on record
- Wikidata
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5 Wikidata
- Platforms on record
- WindowsPS5Xbox Series X|S on Wikidata · on Wikidata without a reference. A platform missing here is not proof it is absent.
Facts: Wikidata Q86919275 (CC0), revision 2553767653, read 26 Oct 2026, researched by VGKami Games Research (VGK-WIKIDATA-CENTRE-20261028-V3d). Spotted a wrong fact? Tell us.
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