Valorant
News, coverage and analysis tracking Valorant across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Valorant pulls in BMTH and Spiritbox singers for VCT anthem, and it's exactly what we need
Riot Games has released the official anthem for the Valorant Champions Shanghai tournament, titled 'If The Sun Burns Out Tonight.' The track features Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon and Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox, with production by Grabbitz. This marks a return to heavy metal influences for Valorant's anthems, aiming to recapture the balance of electronic and strong vocals that made previous tracks successful.
The Future of Virtual Competition: Is Xbox Game Pass Primed to Launch the Next Big Esport?
This article analyzes the potential for Xbox Game Pass to foster the next major esport, highlighting how its subscription model lowers the barrier to entry for new multiplayer games. While services like Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, and Call of Duty already benefit from Game Pass integrations, the platform's true strength lies in providing a large player base for unproven titles. However, the article emphasizes that core game design, depth, and community building are still crucial for a game to achieve esport status, with Game Pass acting as a facilitator rather than a guarantee.
Lifting together: How Warframe became one of the world's best multiplayer games
Warframe has evolved from a middling 2013 release into a highly successful live service game, maintaining a strong player base and positive reception through continuous development and community engagement. Digital Extremes' philosophy of taking risks, iterating based on player feedback, and fostering a strong community has been key to its resilience and ongoing popularity, even as other multiplayer games struggle.
The US government is hiring gamers as air traffic controllers, with "historic" results
The US government's campaign to recruit gamers as air traffic controllers has been highly successful, meeting 94% of its hiring goal and achieving the fastest recruitment target completion ever. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted that gamers possess valuable skills like problem-solving and spatial awareness, leading to historic hiring numbers and strong performance from new recruits.
Valorant Season 2026 Act 5 start date
Valorant Season 2026 Act 5 is scheduled to begin on August 17, 2026, following the conclusion of Act 4. This new act will introduce a fresh Battle Pass, updates to the competitive map rotation, and potential balance adjustments for existing agents in Riot Games' tactical shooter.
Arise Dark Lord is a new RTS where you raise evil armies and crush "godless heathens"
Introversion Software has revealed Arise Dark Lord, a new real-time strategy and action hybrid game where players assume the role of a dark lord commanding undead armies. The game is set for release in 2027, with a Prologue currently available on itch.io. The title features a parchment art style and clear homages to The Lord of the Rings.
EA is now a private company, with stakeholders that include Saudi's PIF and Affinity Partners
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company following a $55 billion buyout, with stakeholders including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners. This deal, the second largest in gaming history, has raised concerns regarding human rights and LGBTQ+ issues due to the nature of some investors. The future of EA's franchises and potential company restructuring remain uncertain.
Dead by Daylight's first-ever community-created chapter has finally hit the PTB
Dead by Daylight's new community-created chapter, Chorus of Sin, is now available on the Public Test Build. The chapter introduces a new Killer, The Judgement, an angelic figure with corrupted features, and a new Survivor, Aurora Stardotter, a spiritual scientist. The chapter officially launches in-game on Tuesday, August 25.
NC's tactical shooter, Cinder City, is running its first-ever playtest
NC is holding its first-ever pre-alpha playtest for its tactical shooter, Cinder City, in North America from August 14-16. The game is set in a near-future, post-apocalyptic Seoul and blends horror, sci-fi, and traditional FPS mechanics. Participants must be 16 years or older and located in North America.
League of Legends codes (August 2026)
This guide provides a list of active League of Legends codes for Classic-inspired champion icons, released to celebrate the Season 3-set mode. It details how to redeem these codes on Riot's website and explains that new codes are being rolled out. The article also mentions expired codes and suggests checking social media for future announcements.
If you bounced off Baldur's Gate 3: now is the time to try again
This article discusses the author's initial negative experience with Baldur's Gate 3, citing its complexity and D&D jargon. After a second playthrough, influenced by watching cast members play D&D, the author found a deeper appreciation for the game's freedom, character depth, and its impact on popular culture and video game acting.
Gamesight: Creators are best predictor for a game's success, not viewership
Marketing platform Gamesight's analysis indicates that the number of active creators producing content by day three of a game's launch is a more reliable predictor of long-term success than total viewership. This metric is particularly crucial for player-versus-player first-person shooter games, where factors like replayability and competitive progression contribute to sustained creator interest and community formation.
Adult-Mode Play: Gaming for Real Life | TAG
This article discusses the concept of 'adult-mode play,' which caters to gamers with limited time and finite budgets, contrasting it with the industry's focus on engagement metrics and extended play sessions. It highlights games that support shorter playtimes and suggests a mindset shift for adult gamers to enjoy their hobby without guilt or FOMO.
Valve expects all Steam Machine reservations to be fulfilled "by the end of the year"
Valve has announced that all remaining Steam Machine reservations are expected to be fulfilled by the end of the year. While the device received mixed reviews and faced criticism for its price, it has remained sold out on Valve's storefront. The company is sending out purchase invitations in the order of the reservation list, with some regions already moving to waitlists.
Nexus Mods wants to make modding "Spotify-easy," with a "browse, click, and play" system
Nexus Mods' new owner, Victor Folmann of Chosen, aims to simplify the modding process for PC games, making it as easy as streaming music. The platform intends to become an operating system for user-generated content, allowing players to 'browse, click, and play' mods and empowering creators to publish and manage them more effectively. Folmann asks for a year to demonstrate these improvements, highlighting the potential for mods to enhance game longevity and player experience.
Evening Esports and Competitions
London is expressing interest in hosting major esports events, such as the Valorant Masters tournament. This initiative highlights the city's ambition to become a significant hub for competitive gaming.
"This is us speaking to the world" – Why London is keen to host esports events like the Valorant Masters
London's deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries, Justine Simons OBE, and Riot Games' president of publishing and esports, John Needham, discuss the strategic benefits of hosting major esports events like the Valorant Masters. They highlight the economic impact, global reach, and reputational boost these events bring to the city, emphasizing London's ambition to be a premier destination for esports.
Games industry analyst says Meccha Chameleon's June revenue on PC was second only to Fortnite
The hide-and-seek game Meccha Chameleon achieved significant revenue on PC in June, ranking second only to Fortnite in several western countries according to Newzoo. This success highlights the commercial viability of lower-budget, socially driven multiplayer experiences. The game's low entry cost, viral popularity on social media, and upcoming collaborations contribute to its broad appeal.
MelGeek MADE68 Ultra V2 keyboard review: A sharp competitive tool
The MelGeek MADE68 Ultra V2 is a premium 65 percent mechanical keyboard designed for competitive gaming, featuring magnetic switches with customizable actuation points and a responsive, low-latency performance. While its aluminum alloy frame and sleek design are impressive, the light bar's limited game compatibility and the 'Night Purple' keycap color scheme's readability issues are noted drawbacks. Priced at $219, it offers a satisfying typing experience and a competitive edge, particularly for shooter games.
Why Bonus Buy Slots Divide Players
Players now evaluate video games based on a wide range of factors beyond the initial price, including time investment, ongoing costs, social value, and the clarity of incentives. This shift means that even free-to-play titles like Valorant or established franchises like Grand Theft Auto VI must offer perceived value through cosmetics, community engagement, and fair gameplay to retain player interest and spending.
