Tencent brought the much-awaited first-person shooter game Valorant, created by Riot Games, to Chinese gamers on July 12, 2023. The game’s release was hindered by the lengthy China licensing process. However, the timing could not have been more appropriate, given that China represents the largest PC gaming market worldwide. With games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive and CrossFire boasting strong communities and esports infrastructures, Valorant is set to make waves.
The successful launch of Valorant can largely be credited to Riot Games, famous for creating League of Legends (LoL) – China’s most played PC game. There are exclusive rewards offered to players that connect their LoL and Valorant accounts, thus enticing a vast player base. Furthermore, Valorant steps in to fill the gap left by Blizzard’s Overwatch discontinuation, another esports title with significant foothold in China.
Market research firm Niko Partners predicts that Valorant could spur the growth of China’s PC gaming market. The game hit the ground running in its first week, with impressive popularity on live-streaming platforms and high viewer demand. The launch day presented some technical hiccups including long queue times and server problems due to the massive demand, leading Tencent to boost server capacity.
Riot Games and Tencent are dedicated to personalizing the gaming experience for Chinese players, and have undertaken closed tests for player feedback. The Chinese version of Valorant integrates unique local features in tune with the preferences of local players. Additionally, the developers are set to synchronize updates between the global and China servers.
Besides, Valorant has a profound emphasis on esports, powered by dedicated esports section in its launcher. With China owning the world’s largest esports market, Tencent plans to allocate RMB 1 billion (around $138 million) over the upcoming three years to develop the game’s esports ecosystem further. Chinese esports entities like Edward Gaming are already participating and showcasing their talents in international Valorant tournaments.
In summary, the launch of Valorant in China is anticipated to stimulate the country’s PC gaming market, as well as enrich the game’s global esports ecosystem. Providing it continues its successful trajectory and positive reception, Valorant holds fantastic prospects of becoming a leading esports game in China and on the global stage.