Here's a detailed Platforms Guide for Valorant:
Available Platforms:
•PC (Windows): Valorant was initially released for Windows PCs. It can be downloaded through the Riot Games Launcher, which is a necessity for playing any Riot game, including Valorant. There is no official support for macOS or Linux.
•Xbox Series X|S: Valorant has expanded to Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. The game supports cross-progression between PC and Xbox, meaning your skins, agents, and other purchases are available across both platforms. However, there is no cross-play between PC and console due to input and gameplay balance concerns.
•PlayStation 5: Similarly, Valorant is available on PS5 with the same cross-progression features as Xbox but no cross-play with PC. Console players from both Xbox and PS5 can play against each other due to crossplay support within console versions.
Platform-Specific Information:
PC:
•System Requirements: Valorant has relatively low system requirements for running on PC, making it accessible for a wide range of hardware capabilities. See also: System Requirements Guide for Valorant
•Anti-Cheat: Riot Vanguard, an anti-cheat system, runs at the kernel level on Windows PCs to ensure competitive integrity.
•Input: Designed primarily for mouse and keyboard, offering precise control for aiming and movement.
Console (Xbox Series X|S and PS5):
•Release: After a limited beta starting June 14, 2024, the full console release was on August 2, 2024, initially available in the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, and later expanded to Brazil.
•Controller Support: The game has been adapted for controller input with features like "Focus Mode" for aiming, but mouse and keyboard are not supported on consoles to maintain competitive balance.
•Progression: While your inventory and progression are shared between PC and console, you'll have separate ranks and MMR (Match Making Rating) for each platform.
Cross-Platform Features:
•Cross-Progression: Your account's progress, including skins, agents, and battle pass progress, syncs across PC, Xbox, and PS5. This means any purchases made on one platform will reflect on all others where you play.
•Cross-Play: Limited to console players only (PS5 vs. Xbox Series X|S). No cross-play between PC and console to ensure fair play due to the significant control differences.
Considerations:
•Account Requirement: A Riot Account is required to play on any platform, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.
•Controller vs. Mouse and Keyboard: The gameplay experience might differ due to input methods. Console players use controllers, which have been adapted to mimic the precision of a mouse through features like aim assist, but they still differ significantly from PC controls.
•Performance: While Valorant on PC benefits from a wide range of customizable settings for optimal performance, console versions are more standardized to match the hardware capabilities of the Xbox Series X|S and PS5.
How to Get Started:
•PC: Download the Riot Games Launcher from Riot's official website, create or sign into your Riot account, and install Valorant.
•Console: Navigate to your console's respective store (Microsoft Store for Xbox, PlayStation Store for PS5), search for Valorant, download it, and log in with your Riot Account.
Note: For the most up-to-date information or any changes in platform support, checking official announcements from Riot Games or posts on X from @VALORANT would be beneficial |
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