Riot Games has made Valorant its love letter to the gaming community by perfectly transporting the fan-favorite FPS game to the PS5 and XBOX. As a console gamer, getting home after a long day of work and racking up some wins on the PS5 from the comfort of my couch has become a daily relaxation routine. Now it’s finally time to review Valorant on the consoles.
The Big Surprise
Like many of you, I was shocked when Riot Games announced that Valorant would be coming to consoles during the Summer Fest. Riot has mostly stuck to the PC platform, with exceptions like the delightful Riot Forge games. So, seeing Valorant, their tactical shooter, make the leap to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S was a huge and pleasant surprise, and in all regards, a bold move from the billion-dollar company.
After spending a little over 5 hours in the public beta on my PS5, I was already hooked. As a game that thrives on precision and tactical gameplay, Valorant’s transition from PC to console could have been tricky, but Riot really hit the mark, making it feel right at home on our beloved consoles.
Getting the Hang of Controls
Riot overhauled the controls and UI to make Valorant work on consoles, and for the most part, they nailed it. While the aiming down sights system was a bit challenging to adapt to, I ultimately understood how well it blended in with the rest of the controller mechanics, and now it’s just second nature to me. A few players even used an adapted mouse and keyboard combo for the PS5, but the console controller seems to work even better.
Boosting your Performance in Valorant for the PS5
Focus mode is like traditional ADS but with a twist—it slows down your sensitivity for those crucial shots. It’s a game-changer for precise aiming. Once you get used to it, you’ll find yourself winning more gunfights. The earlier you embrace it, the sooner you will start racking up kills.
Valorant offers quite a bit of customization for your controls and crosshair. Spend some time tweaking these settings. It might seem tedious, but trust me, it makes a huge difference.
One of the things I learned from playing with a Radiant teammate was that moving quietly will always give you a tactical advantage. On PC, you’d hold CTRL to walk, but on console, you can either customize a button or push the movement stick slightly forward. Find what works best for you and practice it.
Valorant on console feels a bit slower than on PC. Instead of rushing, take advantage of this by planning your moves and playing tactically. This slower pace can actually boost your performance, as you’ll need to focus less on reaction times.
The ping system is your best friend when it comes to communicating with teammates if you’re not using a mic. It can be slow, but it’s crucial for team coordination. Mark enemy locations and important points to keep your team in the loop. If you’ve played Apex Legends on consoles before, you know what I’m talking about.
Riot has done an admirable job bringing Valorant to consoles. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite games on the PS5. Valorant offers a unique tactical experience that stands out from faster-paced shooters like Apex Legends and Call of Duty. It’s all about strategy, planning, and precise execution.
What’s Next?
If you’re ready to boost your tactical shooter skills, now’s the perfect time to dive into Valorant on console. Download it on your Xbox Series X|S or PS5, grab your controller, and jump into the action. Let’s show the PC players that we don’t need a mouse to hit our headshots!
