VALORANT launches on Xbox straight out of beta, complete with sweet Game Pass perks and benefits

VALORANT is officially on console just a week after the arrival of its open beta.

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What you need to know

Weeks after Riot Games' popular competitive titleVALORANTcame to Xbox Series X|S and PS5 in closed beta and just one week after that beta was opened to all players, the free-to-play 5v5 hero shooter has now been fully released on consoles. This port is now available to console players in the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Brazil, and is nearly identical to the PC version that’s been a worldwide hit since its release in summer 2020. Riot announced the news witha new cinematic traileryou can watch below (or with the hyperlink).

Something important to note is that VALORANT on console does not support crossplay with the PC version of the game, though Xbox and PlayStation players canqueue and match together. This has been done to ensure the integrity of the shooter’s competitive nature in both versions; both controller and mouse and keyboard have some unique advantages and disadvantages, so mixed input play would add bumps to an otherwise even playing field. This is also why VALORANT on PC has not gotten controller support.

VALORANTdoessupport cross-progression, however, so as long as you’re using the same account on both platforms, any skins and XP you earn in one version of the game will carry over to the other. Riot has also confirmed that PC and console players will get access to all future patches, Agent releases, and cosmetics at the same time.

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In case you’re wondering, VALORANT’s console edition features all the same Agents, abilities, and weapons that you’ll find in the PC one, though notably, it’s gotten some small adjustments to make the game more enjoyable to play on console. For more on how the experience feels to play, check outour VALORANT hands-on Xbox beta preview.

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Also, as part ofa wider partnership between Microsoft and Riot Gamesthat began in 2022,Xbox Game Passplayers have access to some exclusive perks and benefits. These include access to all of VALORANT’s current Agents, guaranteed access to allfutureAgents, a 20% XP boost (including for progress on Battle Passes and Events), and a 10% discount on all VALORANT Points purchases (this is VALORANT’s in-game currency). These apply on both Xbox and PC (provided you’re using the Microsoft Store version), through regular Game Pass,PC Game Pass, andXbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Overall, it’s great to see VALORANT officially make it to console so soon after the arrival of its beta, though if you were already playing the game on Xbox or PS5, nothing has ultimately changed for you with this release. Still, it’s good to know that new updates and content will now release on this version of the shooter as well as the PC one when it arrives.

VALORANT is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 for free, and is one of thebest Xbox gamesandbest PC gamesto play if you’re a fan of competitive shooters. With Xbox Game Pass, you’ll get several noteworthy in-game benefits like access to all Agents, a big XP boost, and a 10% discount on VALORANT Points.

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Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he’s been an avid fan since childhood. He’s been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you’ll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he’s not writing or gaming, there’s a good chance he’s either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once.Follow him on X(Twitter).