_ VALORANT _ is currently in its closed beta and is expected to continue until the game’s release later this summer . The forthcoming title from Riot Games , which is currently in its sixth year of development, is proving to be one of the might highly hyped shooter titles of the year. Even with the release of _ Call of Duty: Warzone _ and the impending release of _ Overwatch 2 _ , the world’s most competitive gamers can’t stop talking about _ VALORANT

Game developers have to make tough choices when it comes to how best to market their games. Mass appeal certainly helps them generate revenue as they spend money on cosmetics and battle passes. However, competitive players play much differently than the casual player base, who provide the majority of financial support for the game buy purchasing cosmet

The first game that many will compare Valorant to is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive , a game that recently beat out DOTA 2 for peak concurrent players on Steam . CS:GO was released in 2012 by Valve. The Counterstrike series was originally a modification from Half-life and CS:GO is the fourth game in the ser

Even with the game's similarities to CS:GO , Riot designed VALORANT to be a unique experience. Although it's possible an established pro from another game will come and prove themselves the best, it's more likely that some fresh young talent will emerge and find his calling in VALOR

Gen.G, seemingly had the greatest understanding. Despite being arguably outclassed mechanically by Team Brax, Gen.G's defense often seemed impregnable and their offense would steam roll through teams caught off guard. Michael "MkaeL" De Luca's Cypher play was masterful, and the information he gained allowed Gen.G's defense to become a brick w

In between each round players are able to take a few moments to strategize and think about the round. This is different from some of the games in the direct genre as well. One could argue that this is something that is taken from Overwatch or Paladins , but it allows for planning and communicating between teammates that is definitely help

Keep in mind, this smoke drops out of the sky, meaning if there's a roof or vertical cover of any kind in between the sky and the area you're trying to smoke, it's not going to land where you want it to land. Brimstone is going to need to be very specific and accurate in order to get the most use out of his smokes and realize there are certain places it just isn't going to work

All of this points to Riot’s hope and expectation that VALORANT will be the next top-tier esport. And, with good reason, too. Esports are more popular than ever. With the amount of money now changing hands in competitive gaming as well as projections around the long-term outlook , it’s no surprise Riot Games continues heavily investing in esports after is success with League of Legen

This smoke can be used offensively to great effect too, used to block off valuable enemy sightlines allowing for you and/or your team to enter a site without defenders having access to their most favorable positions. Defenders are going to adjust to this as the match plays out, and you'll have to feel out which areas they're moving to in order to continue getting value out of these the longer the match g

Some people have complained about the aesthetics of the character design itself. However, as others have noted, competitive players value speed, gameplay and mechanics over a stunning picture that contains more visual no

Valorant' s tick-rate is an impressive 128hz, which is double CS:GO and Overwatch , and way more than Apex Legends (20HZ), Fortnite (3ohz), or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (12). Many players, especially professional gamers, appreciate the smooth and responsive feel of a high tick rate, and a 128hz will allow for games to feel fair and lacking in the "how did that guy just hit me when I'm behind the wall" type mome

Among Valorant's long-list of strengths, one of the major factors contributing to its popularity is its cast of interesting and unique characters. The roster is filled to the brim with personality, identity, versatility, Arcade Skins varying play-styles, and unique and interesting visual designs. With such a vast and appealing roster, one of the hardest choices a new player will make is which character they wish to "main" and master. Of the cast, one of the most powerful and interesting is the fire-casting Phoenix. With a well-rounded arsenal of self-sustaining abilities and team-supporting abilities, Phoenix is one of the best characters in Valor

Two teams of five players face off on one of several maps, with the first team to win thirteen rounds taking the overall match victory. Similar to other FPS games, each team alternates between taking the role of Attacker or Defender. To win a round, all the Attackers need to do is plant the Spike (like a bomb in other titles) on one of several predetermined locations, or simply eliminate the opposing team. Likewise, the Defenders are only tasked with stopping the Spike plant by defusing it within the round time limit or by eliminating the opposit