Valorant was developed by Riot Games, the creators of League of Legends, and released on June 2, 2020. The game's development began in 2014 under the code name Project A. Riot Games wanted to create a tactical first-person shooter (FPS) that combined the strategic depth of games like Counter-Strike with hero abilities similar to those found in Overwatch. They aimed to design a game that emphasized precise shooting mechanics and team-based strategies, offering something that was both accessible and deep for competitive players.
The inspiration for Valorant came from Riot's desire to make a tactical shooter that required skill, teamwork, and strategy, while also introducing unique agent abilities to differentiate it from traditional FPS games. The developers studied other popular games in the genre, like CS:GO and Overwatch, and worked to refine the balance between gunplay and the use of character-specific abilities.
Valorant’s design was heavily influenced by Riot’s desire to build a game with a strong competitive focus, offering a clear and fair environment for players at all levels. The developers also focused on making sure the game was accessible to a global audience, with smooth server performance and low latency across different regions.
The game has since gained popularity, particularly in the competitive gaming and esports scenes, where it’s seen as a blend of traditional tactical shooters and modern hero-based shooters. Riot's commitment to frequent updates and maintaining a healthy, competitive environment has kept Valorant evolving with new agents, maps, and gameplay features.