The anticipation for Valorant’s mobile version might be nearing its end. After a plethora of gameplay leaks and extensive discussions about Riot Games’ decision to miniaturize the hit FPS, recent developments suggest it may be nearing its completion phase.
Yesterday, China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) announced the approval of this year’s third batch of imported game licenses. This batch includes 11 mobile games, one PC game, and three console games for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Notably, Valorant Mobile, listed as Valorant: Operation Primal, was part of this announcement.
Reflecting on the success of League of Legends: Wild Rift, it’s evident that Tencent and Riot Games are keen to expand the Valorant franchise, bringing it to a broader audience via mobile devices. Currently exclusive to Windows PC, the launch of Valorant Mobile aims to open new avenues, along with planned console version.
While Riot Games has not announced a global release date, a beta rollout in China could precede the worldwide launch. This is supported by ongoing regional testing and numerous leaks circulating on social media. Insider tests in select areas also hint that the final version might not be far off.
Esports scene coming up
Regarding the potential esports circuit for Valorant Mobile, Liquipedia APAC manager hesketh2 speculates that Tencent and Riot are likely to organize separate events to avoid clashing with the established Valorant Champions Tour, which occurs annually worldwide.
Additionally, he notes that Valorant Mobile will feature a limited cross-progression system, unlike many mobile counterparts such as Call of Duty: Warzone or the upcoming Rainbow Six Siege Mobile. This means PC and console players won’t be able to compete directly with mobile players.
However, despite Valorant’s significant success in the FPS market, Tencent and Riot will need a robust marketing strategy to compete with established mobile titles like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Call of Duty Mobile. The case of Wild Rift, which, despite League of Legends’ global popularity, failed to match the success of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Honor of Kings in the mobile MOBA space, serves as a cautionary tale.
