Riot partners with Lightspeed for Valorant Mobile launch in China

After a long wait of nearly four years, fans of Riot Games' tactical hero shooter, Valorant, can finally look forward to its arrival on mobile devices. Riot has officially announced a partnership with Tencent-owned Lightspeed Studios to bring Valorant to mobile, starting with a China-first release strategy.

Valorant, which blends the sharp, tactical gunplay of Counter-Strike with the unique agent abilities reminiscent of Overwatch, has captured the hearts of PC gamers with its intense 13-round 5v5 matches. Each player has only one life per round, adding a layer of strategy and tension, especially when combined with objectives like bomb defusal or planting.

The collaboration between Riot and Lightspeed isn't surprising, given that both are under the Tencent umbrella. However, this official confirmation breaks the long silence on Valorant Mobile and is a welcome update for eager fans.

Given the dominance of Android in China, a multi-OS release is almost certain. While Riot has only confirmed the partnership with Lightspeed and the initial focus on China, the announcement hints at a broader global release in the future. However, with ongoing trade issues affecting the smartphone market, it may be some time before we get a definitive release date for Valorant Mobile worldwide.

In the meantime, if you're eager to get your shooting fix, don't limit yourself to other genres like puzzles or culinary management sims. Check out our curated list of the best shooters available on Android and iOS to keep your trigger finger sharp until Valorant Mobile hits the global stage.