Valorant Makes Console Debut Amidst Rising Hero Shooter Competition

As the time approaches for the release of Concord and Marvel Rivals, Riot Games’ Valorant lead remains unconcerned about launching their tactical FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, especially since it offers a different experience compared to hero shooters.

Valorant is now available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, marking four years since its initial release on PC. Despite the rise of new and forthcoming hero shooters such as Marvel Rivals and Concord, Riot Games is certain that Valorant provides a unique experience. Riot Games' director of production and product lead for Valorant, Arnar Hrafn Gylfason, explains that they do not consider Valorant to be a hero shooter at its essence.

According to Gylfason, the game, at its core, is a tactical shooter that happens to feature agents with abilities. This combination allows the developers significant freedom to create diverse gameplay fantasies and imaginative intellectual properties. He emphasizes that Valorant is a serious, competitive, tactical shooter, which he believes fulfills different player needs compared to hero action shooters that have emerged in recent years. Gylfason notes that this distinction is evident in player engagement, with each type of game catering to different motivations and preferences.

Gylfason points out that there is enough space in the gaming market for both types of shooters, and each can coexist by serving unique player interests. It’s an optimistic perspective that is likely to hold true as more competitive shooters continue to emerge. Besides Concord and Marvel Rivals, other upcoming titles include Bad Guitar Studio’s 5v5 hero shooter FragPunk and a rumored new game from Valve, while Overwatch 2 also remains active. It’s apparent that Valorant’s release on consoles will attract even more players to Riot Games’ FPS, but only time will reveal how fans allocate their gaming time among these titles.