Riot Games' popular free-to-play tactical shooter has officially launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S, the developer announced on FridayLeague of Legends and Teamfight This is Riot's first live-service game on consoles, as other hits like Tactics are exclusive to the PC version

Like the existing PC version, Valorant is free to play on consoles and is currently available to players in the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Brazil Going forward, PC and console players will receive "simultaneous platform releases of all live patch balances, new agents, maps, premium content, and additional live service features," the developer said

PlayStation and Xbox players will be able to play together, but cross-play of matches between PC and console players will remain off for now However, the game will support cross-progression, so skins and battle pass progress will carry over between PC and consoles

Valorant initially appeared on consoles in June as a beta, and players needed an invitation code to gain access While obtaining a code was not particularly difficult, the announcement is a welcome change for players who have struggled to participate [Arnar Gylfason, production director for Valorant at Riot Games, said, "We received a lot of valuable feedback from players during the limited beta and are confident we can deliver the gameplay we promised to console players Whether it's hitting the perfect shot, executing the perfect team play, or annihilating the enemy team, we look forward to giving console players the same gameplay thrill that 'Valorant' PC players experience"

Riot Games has made several tweaks to make the 5vs5 tactical shooter more controller-friendly, including the addition of a new shooting mode called Focus

"Focus is a new shooting mode that essentially works like hip-fire, but with reduced sensitivity This way, players can use hipfire when they need speed to move the camera and aim, and focus mode when they need accuracy" This also brings console players closer to the shooting mechanics they are used to in shooters, without losing the added value that Valorant's sights provide

Valorant is currently available for free on PC, Xbox Series S and Series X, and PS5