When did Valorant come out? – All Relevant Release Dates
When did Valorant come out? Do you know when it first hit the scene? Here’s the full release history of Riot Games’ popular FPS.
Riot’s take on tactical shooters has done its job on being a competitor to Counter-Strike in ways that other games simply haven’t been able to do. From the first day the public beta rolled out, we knew VALORANT will easily surpass Overwatch and even compete with Counter-Strike and other shooters.
When did Valorant come out?
Valorant officially launched on June 2, 2020.
Initially called, Project A, this game developed in relative secrecy for several years. Unlike initial expectations, it did not make use of the League of Legends IP, or the lore world of Runeterra. Instead, a new modern near future world was designed with weapons and gunplay similar to Counter-Strike.
Immediate similarities between the guns, gameplay and match dynamics were noticeable immediately and intentional. Riot’s poppy visual would be putting on a fresh coat of paint when they showed off the project in October 2019. Closed beta began on April 7, 2020, allowing select players to test the game and provide feedback.
All VALORANT Release Dates
Since the game launch, Riot Games releases a new three act episode with a unique code name every six months. New episodes launch in Janary and June of each year.
- Alpha Test Phase – 2019-2020
- VALORANT Beta – April 7, 2020 – May 28, 2020
- Official game launch June 2, 2020
- Episode One: IGNITION – June 2, 2020
- Episode Two: FORMATION – January 12, 2021
- Episode Three: REFLECTION – June 22, 2021
- Episode Four: DISRUPTION – January 11, 2022
- Episode Five: DIMENSION – June 22, 2022
- Episode Six: REVELATION -January 10, 2023
- Episode Seven: EVOLUTION – June 27, 2023
- Episode Eight: DEFIANCE – January 9, 2024
- Episode Nine: COLLISION – June 25, 2024
Why do people like Valorant?
VALORANT combines elements of tactical shooters like Counter-Strike with unique agent abilities similar to Overwatch. This blend of precise gunplay and strategic ability usage creates a fresh and engaging experience, drawing players from various gaming backgrounds.
Riot Games also does a very good job of supporting their Tier 1 esports scenes, with progression into Tier 1 often being quite a smooth transition. Since the official VALORANT launch, organizers immediately got to work making events and the best esports teams scrambled to put together startstudded rosters. A fully fledged esports ecosystem, and Valorant betting quickly followed. Down the line, a transition into a hybrid esports franchising system was a tad messy, but they stuck the landing better than their contemporaries.
Since its release, Valorant has become a staple in the esports scene. With regular updates, new agents, and maps, Riot Games keeps the game fresh and exciting, ensuring it remains a favorite among competitive gamers.
Since: June 4, 2024
