With that being said, there’s always a lesson or two to be learned from adversity, and it’s always good to take a look at where things went wrong and how they can be improved. To that end, we’ve put together a list of events in the gaming world that garnered quite a response from the gaming community, and not in a good way. Let’s dive right in!

1. GTA 6 Delayed To November 2026

We’re sure you saw this one coming and thought it best to get it out of the way early. It’s always a bummer when a highly anticipated title faces a delay, and that becomes a lot worse to bear when that title has been a very long time in the making.

While we’re not going to hold a grudge against Rockstar for this one, as we suspect that the delay is only going to make the final game even better, it still rankles to know that there’s still such a long way to go before we get to dive into what we’re sure is a banger from the studio.

2. Microsoft’s Xbox Hardware Price Hikes

The Xbox hasn’t had a great run in the last few years, and Microsoft certainly didn’t help its case when it hiked the prices on Xbox consoles and a few games in May of last year. While we’re not going to get into the politics that are rumored to be behind the decision, it certainly wasn’t great news for Xbox fans in the market for a new console, with the flagship Series X’s prices going up by around 22% – a significant increase on a console whose popularity has been gradually eroding away.

However, Microsoft might not be entirely to blame for the situation; it was a choice that still didn’t sit well with many, never mind the fact that the PlayStation also saw its prices increase as a response.

3. Price Hikes On PlayStation Hardware In Some Regions

In Europe, the UK, and Australia, Sony hiked prices on the PS5 Digital Edition by around 10%, the reason given being economic turmoil around the world. It’s probably not as bad as the hike on Xbox consoles but is still quite an increase on an already pricey machine despite the excellence it brings to the table.
We’re just glad that the PS5 Pro remained unscathed through it all, and Sony probably deserves a bit of praise for managing to keep things under control for the most part.

4. Game Pass Price Increase

It wasn’t just consoles that saw unpopular price hikes, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate becoming dearer by quite a significant margin, prompting backlash from existing and potential subscribers. Despite Microsoft issuing a statement saying that such occurrences were “never fun for anybody”, it didn’t help with stopping a string of cancellations as frustrated gamers decided to speak up against the price hikes with their wallets.

We’re just glad we didn’t have to deal with the consequences of the decision, as things certainly got nasty.

5. Sony’s PS Plus Pricing Hike

Sony’s PS Plus wasn’t safe from global economic conditions either, and the service saw price hikes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Once again, Sony must be commended for restricting the fallout of turbulence in global supply chains, but the price hikes were still quite unpopular among gamers.

It’s interesting to see how Sony managed to keep things in control in comparison with Microsoft, but the price hikes did raise concerns about the value of gaming on consoles versus the same costs on a PC. That’s an interesting facet of this equation that does merit close observation over the next couple of years, and the Steam Machine’s debut might be quite a twist in this tale.

6. AI In Video Games

Generative AI made things quite complicated for a few studios in 2025, with many players and critics calling out its use in video games as a step in the wrong direction. A great example would be ARC Raiders, where lines of NPC dialogue being handled by AI received quite a bit of backlash and review bombing on what was an otherwise solid game. And we suppose there’s no need to mention the controversy surrounding The Alters, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Fortnite.

7. Call of Duty Black Ops 7

While disappointment with the annual Call of Duty franchise has become something of a recurring tradition, it wasn’t really surprising to see Black Ops 7 fall as flatly as it did. The story, gameplay, and overall presentation failed to gain the momentum needed to stop the franchise’s slump, and the game has been among our worst shooters of 2025 thanks to the likes of ARC Raiders.

Some might be holding out hope that the franchise can turn things around with subsequent instalments though, but that’s looking pretty unlikely now.

8. Mario Kart World’s Hefty Price Tag

Mario Kart World was certainly incredible, and a great title to show off what the Switch 2 could do. But its pricing left a bitter taste in the mouth of those who bought it, and perhaps even put off some players who might have otherwise chosen to dive in.

While an $80 price tag on an excellent game might be palatable to people who want quality, it did raise concerns about a new pricing standard that could isolate quite a few gamers whose budgets might not allow them to pick up great games consistently.

9. Industry Wide Layoffs

There’s a long list of studios that have been shut down, and teams that have faced layoffs over a variety of factors. Studios like Monolith, whose Nemesis System is now probably locked away in a vault somewhere, are great examples of talented teams who were unfortunately let go thanks to a variety of factors.

2025 also saw layoffs across Electronic Arts, Supermassive Games, People Can Fly, Amazon Games, and several others, with thousands of developers ultimately losing their jobs. Here’s hoping that all of the talented folks who were affected it managed to land on their feet.

10. MindsEye

Boy, was this one an annoyance. We went into MindsEye expecting great things from Build A Rocket Boy but were left with a bitter taste in our mouth after its lifeless world, lackluster story, and uninspired combat. This was a game that should have been so much more, and was perhaps the most egregious fail that 2025 brought to the gaming world.

The studio’s response to the criticism aimed at their debut title was also quite lacking, showcasing a poor attitude that did it no favors, and perhaps can act as a lesson to other studios whose offerings fail to get off the ground at the outset.

11. Monster Hunter Wilds PC

This one’s another instance of a disappointing end to a very long wait. With Worlds being as good as it was, Wilds should have been a sequel that took the popular franchise from the developer to new heights. And while the game did manage to put up a good show on consoles, its PC performance left players quite irate with the studio thanks to its poor optimization.

Frame rate issues, poor VRAM optimization, crashes, stutters, and so many more problems ruined what should have been an incredible time hunting monsters in visually stunning environments. This one’s a classic example of a game that should have been more popular right off the bat but was let down thanks to its problems. We’re happy it managed to get back on track though, somewhat.

12. Where Winds Meet’s UI Issues

If you’ve been with us for a while, you already know that Where Winds Meet has been quite a surprise for all of us who got to play it. However, its UI is one area that could certainly use some polish. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it’s so confusing it runs the risk of making its players miss important parts of its gameplay loop, and needs to do better and communicate all of the myriad systems it contains.

This isn’t a game-breaking problem but it does need to be addressed nonetheless considering the amazing quality of everything else on offer in the experience.

13. Valorant’s Text Verification

Valorant might be among the best esports shooters out there, but that might have worked against the game in this particular instance. With Riot Games aiming to minimize cheating within the game and requiring users to use multi-factor-authentication to be able to play the game, it was obvious that there was going to be a bit of backlash.

With accounts being tied to specific mobile numbers and stringent checks against shady practices, players with multiple accounts who actually played the game without resorting to malpractices were forced to adhere to the new rules. Although necessary, it could still be seen as uncomfortable. We’re all human, after all.

14. Lacking Features At Launch

Several titles released with content that wasn’t available at launch, causing dissatisfaction among players thanks to how crucial they were to their overall enjoyment of the game in question. Borderlands 4’s excellent visuals might have tempted many of its players to take a break and grab some awesome shots of its world, but the lack of a Photo Mode at launch made that an area of frustration.

Ghost of Yotei should have had a New Game+ mode from the very start but that wasn’t the case. Its distinct lack of enemies out in its open world after you finished its story should have been a reason to have the option to get right back into the action but at least it’s there now for those who want it. Several other titles had notable omissions that had us scratching our heads at why they weren’t in the game in the first place.

15. Cancelled Projects

Sony pulled the plug on Bend Studio and Bluepoint Studio’s live-service projects in its pivot towards more profitable (and probably safer) ventures, while Microsoft also cancelled Everwild and Perfect Dark, both of which seemed like solid additions to their respective lineups of titles.

It’s always disappointing to see games with potential be denied the chance to show what they have but it is what it is.

And that’s a wrap on some of 2025’s failures that had gamers shaking their heads at dismal decisions and poor execution of great ideas. Here’s to hoping that 2026 manages to make lists like these a lot shorter!

Waylay will be joining the roster of Valorant as part of Act 2 of the game’s 2025 season, which will be going live on March 5.

Her set of abilities revolve around darting around the battlefield thanks to the fact that she can turn into light. The introductory cinematic shows these capabilities well, while the gameplay trailer showcases how her abilities will play out in an actual match.

As is the case with all Valorant agents, Waylay will have access to four key abilities: Refract, Light Speed, Saturate, and her ultimate, Convergent Paths.

Refract allows Waylay to create a beacon of light on the floor. Players can then instantly travel back to this beacon from anywhere else on the map, all the while being completely invulnerable as they travel.

Light Speed gives Waylay her signature burst movement, allowing her to dash forward twice at the speed of light. Players can also dash upwards with the first of the two dashes, and the ability can also alternately be used to dash forward only once.

Saturate acts like Waylay’s grenade ability, allowing her to throw a cluster of light that explodes when it hits the ground. Enemies caught in this explosion suffer from slowed-down movement and weapons.

Her ultimate, Convergent Paths, allows Waylay to create an afterimage that projects a light beam. After a delay, it expands as Waylay gets a speed boost while also hindering opponents caught in the area.

Alongside Waylay, the seasonal update will also bring the new Cyrax collection, with skins for the Vandal, Ghost, Guardian, Stinger, and Fanblade. Available on March 6, the new collection offers players a crystalline look for their weapons of choice.

The last major addition to Valorant‘s roster was ballistics expert Tejo, who can use explosive abilities, as well as a stealth drone, to get control of the battlefield. Tejo was added to Valorant‘s roster as part of Act 1 of the game’s 2025 season.

Valorant is a free-to-play competitive shooter that is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It blends the tactical gameplay of titles like Counter-Strike, where a single headshot can be lethal, with hero shooter mechanics akin toe Overwatch, with each character having unique abilities.

For more details, check out our review of the PS5 release of Valorant.

More details about Tejo’s abilities have been revealed thanks to a post on the Xbox Wire. Tejo will have four main abilities: Stealth Drone, Guided Salvo, Special Delivery, and his ultimate, Armageddon. The Stealth Drone can be activated to create a small sonar pulse to reveal enemies around it. The Guided Salvo allows Tejo to fire missiles at different parts of the map, which in turn explode twice. Special Delivery is a an explosive sticky grenade that can bounce off surfaces once. Armageddon allows him to bombard an area with a wave of explosions.

Tejo will be joining the roster of Valorant with the release of the first Act planned for launch in 2025. The character will be released on all platforms simultaneously, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to get the jump on unlocking him asap.

After having spent a few years available exclusively on PC, Valorant made the jump to consoles back in August 2024. For more details, check out our review of the game’s PS5 release.

Duke Nukem 3D

3D Realms’ Duke Nukem 3D hasn’t aged well when examining its more risque elements. At the time, it stood out for imbuing some character into the first-person shooter genre, courtesy of Duke’s one-liners. The environmental interactions and destruction also felt fresh, to say nothing of bizarre weapons like the Shrink Ray for cutting enemies down to size.

SUPERHOT

What should be a gimmicky concept – time only moving when you do – results in an engaging, clever experience in the first-person shooter space. Superhot isn’t just about scoring headshots, throwing weapons, or swinging katanas to take out scores of enemies – it’s the assessment, the moments between each kill, that make it sing.

Valorant

Mix Counter-Strike: GO’s tactical shooting with characters befitting a hero shooter and you get Valorant, in a nutshell. As slow-paced and odd as it may seem, this is also one of the best tactical shooters, if not competitive multiplayer titles, out there. Despite only being out for a little over four years, Valorant offers tense gameplay that’s hard to put down.

Borderlands 3

Ignore the base game’s story, characters and writing for the sake of your sanity, and the gameplay in Borderlands 3 is a significant step up. From the smoother response and feedback and improved mobility to more varied gun types and deeper build crafting, it’s a strong looter shooter, though nowhere near as timeless as its predecessor.

DOOM 1 + DOOM 2

While fairly recent, DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 collects the best of both titles into one excellent package. Boasting all their additional content, Sigil, and a great new campaign by MachineGames, the release is made even better with in-game mod support, a stellar remixed soundtrack and cross-platform multiplayer deathmatch, with 26 new maps to cause chaos on.

Killzone 2

After the infamous E3 2005 incident, Guerrilla Games’ first-person shooter had nowhere to go but up, and subsequently knocked it out of the park. The gorgeous visuals were a factor, of course, but the well-designed missions, gunplay, intelligent AI, and tight level design made for an incredible experience (even if the ending was underwhelming).

Halo 3 ODST

Though not quite the follow-up that fans expected, especially after Halo 3’s thunderous conclusion, ODST was still a worthy side story. It focused on one of the most compelling units, the Helljumpers, as they infiltrated New Mombasa and engaged in urban warfare with the Covenant. Perhaps its biggest contribution is the introduction of Firefight, a Horde-style variant with difficulty modifiers, a shared lives pool, and multiple sets to overcome.

Bulletstorm

People Can Fly and Epic Games had a pretty simple goal with Bulletstorm – gamifying stylish ways to kill the opposition. The story and characters are ultimately secondary; kicking enemies into environmental hazards, sending them sky high for some skeet shooting, and more for extra points is ultimately what sold the experience. Even if it remains underrated (no thanks to its terrible VR port), Bulletstorm is still a hell-raising good time.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

The Zone remains as haunting as ever in GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, the third title in the series and most compelling yet. Though it has its share of bugs, the sandbox gameplay combined with the atmospheric horror and survival elements make for a harrowing time, whether you’re dealing with Anomalies or the various factions.

Destiny 2

Bungie’s live service shooter has had a long history, one with many ups and downs. Even throughout all of the changes, it remains perhaps the best of its kind. Between excellent campaigns like The Witch Queen and The Final Shape, an unmistakable feel for its weapons, gorgeous art direction, and stellar raids, Destiny 2 is still worth playing.

Unreal Tournament

When Quake 3 Arena was believed to reign supreme, Unreal Tournament appeared out of nowhere and claimed the throne. While the former still held a strong esports presence, the latter was the overall better product, from its map design and visuals to the sheer variety of mode types. Assault alone is an incredible addition to the competitive FPS formula and playing with AI bots actually felt enjoyable, even on the higher difficulties.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter

Turok may have initially come across as “What if FPS but killing dinosaurs instead of humans?” but surprised many with its exploration and gorgeous visuals on the Nintendo 64. Of course, the combat was no slouch either, as each of the 13 weapons resulted in ample gore. Together, these elements made for an unorthodox but memorable shooter.

Prey (2017)

What could have been with the Prey franchise if Human Head Studios’ sequel wasn’t cancelled? We’ll never know, but in the meantime, Arkane Austin’s 2017 reboot, which embraces a more immersive sim structure and deep space paranoia, is excellent. As Morgan Yu, players must survive in a massive space station overrun with Typhon, but not everything is as it seems. The result is one of the finest first-person titles ever made.

Far Cry 3

Moving away from Far Cry 2’s realistic sandbox, Far Cry 3 went much bigger, returning to the tropical island setting while introducing a compelling new villain. Though the story is far more structured, the open world is rife with quests, enemy camps, wild animals, and much more. To this day, Far Cry 3 remains in a class of its own.

Metro: Last Light

Much as Metro Exodus embraced an open-world-style approach to its large areas, there’s something about Metro: Last Light and its linear narrative. Maybe it’s how well-designed each section felt, whether you were escaping from captivity or slinking through the surface, avoiding contact with its mutants. Perhaps it was the moral dilemmas that Artyom faced. Either way, the series’ brand of survival and fast-paced gunplay is at its peak here.

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic)

Ignoring the utter cluster that Aspyr’s re-released turned out to be in the online department, the classic Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is still a timeless game. The campaign is enjoyable enough but Galactic Conquest was a game changer of a single-player mode, offering a Risk-like map to fight through and conquer. Multiplayer was still arguably the highlight of it all, especially with 24 maps and modes like Hero Assault.

Medal of Honor (1999)

Developed by Dreamworks Interactive, it was the premiere World War 2 title, immersing players in the conflicts of the time while offering a top-tier presentation. Allied Assault would be more remembered thanks to its recreation of the Battle of Normandy, but Medal of Honor still deserves its flowers.

Left 4 Dead 2

Decried as little more than an expansion pack before launch, Left 4 Dead 2 expanded so much on its predecessor’s already compelling co-op gameplay. New Special Infected, deeper campaigns with more varied objectives, a wider variety of melee weapons and guns, and incredible replay value courtesy of its AI Director were just some of the reasons it stood out. Of course, its modability over the years has also ensured some great laughs.

Resistance 3

As the conclusion to the Resistance trilogy, Insomniac’s Resistance 3 is also its least successful. It’s a shame because, on top of new and old weapons, the atmosphere and dark subject matter added to the stakes, making it feel like humanity’s last desperate attempt to stay alive. While it still needed some polish, the gunplay and overall presentation made for a fitting end to the series.

System Shock (2023)

One of the best first-person titles ever made, System Shock is also far from easy to remake. Nevertheless, Nightdive Studios took a swing, rebuilding the visuals from the ground up while staying true to the far-future cyberpunk aesthetic of the original. Even with the improved UI, overhauled Cyberspace and other changes, it still maintains that sense of dread and terror that defined the original.

GoldenEye 007

Rare was already pretty well-established before GoldenEye 007 and yet, its launch raised the developer’s stock considerably. It isn’t just one of the best video game adaptations of a movie (usually a formula for failure back then), but proof that console shooters could be great. The local multiplayer alone defined many gamers’ lives growing up.

Cyberpunk 2077

After all the updates, revamped perks, and improvements, Cyberpunk 2077 has gone from a good first-person shooter to a great one. It’s backed by actual build variety, whether you’re a manic Mantis Blades user, a Netrunner overloading every single enemy, or skilled in a variety of guns. Of course, everything else that makes the game great, from its side quests to its open-world activities, doesn’t hurt either.

Wolfenstein 3D

While not quite the first-ever FPS made, Wolfenstein 3D is what ultimately led to the genre’s rise. It was frantic and fast-paced, with revolutionary visuals and excellent weapons. Though it offered secrets to discover throughout its ten episodes, the simplicity is ultimately what made it such a universal hit.

Quake 2 Remastered

Crafted with Nightdive’s assistance, the recent enhanced edition of Quake 2 packs all the mission packs, Quake 2 64, and a new episode from MachineGames into one package. Then it adds the id Vault, AI opponents in multiplayer, 4K/120 Hz support, and various quality-of-life features, turning one of id’s best shooters ever into a contemporary must-play.

The FINALS

Embark Studios’ THE FINALS is often forgotten when discussing competitive shooters, especially free-to-play options. Nevertheless, it’s a strong package with some unique modes, dynamic combat thanks to full environmental destruction, and extensive strategy, thanks to the unique gadgets. The arena-style combat may not appeal to everyone, but it still makes for some intense PvP sessions.

Black Mesa

If developing a sequel to Half-Life is challenging, remaking the experience, especially as a small team of fans, is an almost Herculean effort. Yet throughout many years of waiting, Black Mesa was finally a reality, delivering everything we loved about the original with gorgeous revamped visuals and entirely new sections like Xen.

DOOM (2016)

Considering how diminished interest had been in the franchise, it’s a miracle that DOOM even released. The fact that it’s this good is just an anomaly. Everything about it, from the visuals and action, particularly the new Glory Kills, is simply fantastic.

Perfect Dark

GoldenEye 007 showcased Rare’s surprising expertise for incredible first-person shooters and Perfect Dark only solidified it. With a tighter narrative focus and strong characterization (as seen with the iconic Joanna Dark), it weaved stealth, tense gunplay, memorable set pieces, and stellar levels into one cohesive package. The fact that it delivered so much despite the Nintendo 64 nearing the end of its lifespan is an achievement unto itself.

Titanfall 2

While it’s a shame that the original didn’t become all that popular, Titanfall 2’s fate is even more tragic given the sheer quality involved. The multiplayer is much more involved with its variety of Titans, weapon types and abilities (even if some maps could be hit or miss). Furthermore, the campaign is simply an all-timer with its level design, boss fights, and stories, making it worth the price of admission alone.

Half-Life 2

When you’re in Valve’s shoes and Half-Life is the pinnacle of narrative first-person shooters, there are high expectations. Yet, Half-Life 2 surpasses with relative ease, from the presentation and world-building to the story-telling and characters. Each area is memorable and unique; the Combine makes for enjoyable foes to fight; and the Gravity Gun is iconic all on its own.

Over four years since debuting on PC, it’s finally available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Obviously, it offers more content than its original launch, from new Agents who baffle me with their strange creatures and devices to new maps and modes that cater to almost every type of player. However, the core of Valorant remains surprisingly compelling, coupled with addictive gunplay and a solid competitive experience…even if it’s not for everyone.

"Despite the fantasy names, guns in Valorant operate realistically, with recoil and spread to manage. Spraying full force up close may be ideal, but tapping the trigger at long range is better for precision…"

If you’ve played any multiplayer shooter at any point in your life, Valorant’s gameplay will look very familiar. The primary objective-based mode is Spike Rush – one team picks up the Spike and deploys it on one of several objective areas. Meanwhile, the opposing team must stop them, either by slaying every opponent or defusing the Spike in time. At the halfway point of a match, the teams switch sides, and the process repeats until there’s a winner.

It’s a simple, straightforward formula that can reward quick reactions and proficient aim as much as map knowledge and coordination. Further feeding into this is the ability to purchase weapons, armor, and whatnot before a round. Perform well, and maybe you can hang on to the reliable Vandal into the next round, thus saving money (and prioritizing other options like armor). Fail, and you’ll be left with the default pistol, though it’s possible to buy weapons for other players, helping the team shore up any shortcomings.

Despite the fantasy names, guns in Valorant operate realistically, with recoil and spread to manage. Spraying full force up close may be ideal, but tapping the trigger at long range is better for precision, especially headshots (though they won’t necessarily be lethal, depending on enemy health and armor). Nevertheless, mastering a weapon’s spread and recoil can make all the difference, adding that extra bit of depth to the responsive controls and aiming.

However, there’s an additional wrinkle on top of all this – abilities. Each Agent has a role (four in total) and can perform tasks from blinding opponents – and their teammates, as I’ve unfortunately done many times – and blocking lines of sight to pinging enemies through walls or healing (don’t even get me started on Iso’s gulag). There are even Ultimates, and though they can heavily shift the momentum of a round, they’re not just insta-win buttons. For the most part, that is.

"Each map has its share of points of interest (including gorgeous aesthetics, like Ascent), but the overall emphasis is on navigating tight corridors, managing sightlines, and flanking the opposition."

Whether it’s Ultimates or abilities, you can’t toss them out willy-nilly throughout a match. They necessitate collecting ultimate charge orbs or even refilling them in the shop before a round. It adds another dimension to a team’s economy – do you opt for ability charges to support your team, ensure your survival with heavier armor, or trust in your gun skills and go with a weapon? Maybe you dump Credits into ensuring your team is outfitted throughout since teamwork makes the dream work.

Because of its format, matches in Valorant can take some time if you’re playing Unrated matches. As annoying as it can be when things don’t gel together, there’s some satisfaction to instantly nailing a killing blow or setting up your teammates for kills. Even if you’re on the losing side, the gunplay and movement feel tight. The tension of masking your footsteps while inching closer to the objective or waiting for someone to pop around the corner or in the window is also exciting, even if it’s slower-paced than what most FPS players would be used to.

The map design is also solid overall, though there are several outliers (which we’ll get into). Each has its share of points of interest (including gorgeous aesthetics, like Ascent), but the overall emphasis is on navigating tight corridors, managing sightlines, and flanking the opposition. Of course, you also need to consider the planting sites, their routes, how to exploit cover, who handles the Spike, and much more.

"There’s also the very nature of Valorant itself – it has a high-skill floor that demands practising and becoming competent at so many different things. On top of this, you need to coordinate and be mindful of your team to have a shot at winning."

For those who want quicker action, there’s Swift Play, which reduces the requirement of successful rounds to win in Spike Rush from 13 to 5 (while also upping the credits each round, thus encouraging more experimentation and aggressive plays). Team Deathmatch is also available for those who want to frag out without worrying about objectives, and solo Deathmatch focuses purely on gunplay without any abilities.

So the big question: Is Valorant fun on consoles? On PS5, I found performance to be steady without any major hiccups. Control settings range from adjusting hip-fire to focus and ADS sensitivity to adjusting inner and outer dead zones alongside one’s aim curve with several options. You can also customize movement dead zones, which is great considering how essential controlling your footstep audio is, and trigger dead zones.

The only real hang-ups are certain maps, especially the recent Abyss. While it isn’t too terrible to see some favor certain weapons more than others, Abyss feels especially egregious; its overall layout can feel a little unbalanced, depending on the side.

There’s also the very nature of Valorant itself – it has a high-skill floor that demands practising and becoming competent at so many different things. On top of this, you need to coordinate and be mindful of your team to have a shot at winning. As such, the experience can be draining given the length of Unrated matches, the tension, and the need to be firing on all cylinders (even if Deathmatch and Swift Play provide more instant gratifications).

"Whether it’ll convert you into a believer who wants to grind hours and hours to perfect their shooting or learn the ins and outs of every map or not, Valorant is a welcome option for console players."

There’s also the fact that new players won’t have all the Agents unlocked, and those available from the outset feel limited. You must play matches and complete Daily Missions to earn Kingdom Credits to unlock them or spend real money on Valorant Points. One free Agent Token is granted to new players for instantly unlocking a character of their choice, but otherwise, getting everyone else can be a bit of a grind.

Once again, Valorant isn’t for everyone, especially those who want more fast-paced, action with killstreaks or Overwatch 2’s team fights with Ultimates and abilities dotting the field. However, that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. If you can get into the groove, it’s a rewarding experience that blends tactical gunplay and an objective-based mode with fantastical solutions and strategy. It’s methodical at times and frustrating at others, yet the intricacies and depth of its systems make each round feel exciting.

Whether it’ll convert you into a fan who wants to grind hours and hours to perfect their shooting or learn the ins and outs of every map or not, Valorant is a welcome option for console players. Here’s hoping that the balance and overall support shake out to be as strong as the PC version.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

Valorant first launched for PC in June 2020 and offers a mix of tactical first-person shooting a la Counter-Strike: GO alongside hero abilities seen in games like Overwatch. Players select an Agent and purchase weapons and other items before a round begins in Spike Rush. One side must plant the Spike while the other defuses, though slaying each other also works.

The roster has expanded significantly over the years but there are also other modes. These include Escalation (akin to Call of Duty’s Gun Game), Team Deathmatch, and Replication (where players cast votes on their Agent of choice, with the game randomly selecting one).

Valorant has amassed 28 million monthly players as of October 2023. Check out our review of the PC version and stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

Riot Games has announced that Valorant is now available in open beta on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While codes were required to play the game on consoles up to this point, everyone can jump in now. Cross-play is also supported between consoles, though players on PC and consoles will not be able to play with and against each other. 

How long Valorant will remain in open beta on consoles remains to be seen, but when it was announced for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in June, Riot said it would be releasing at some point in 2024, so one way or another, we’ll know more about its full console release sooner rather than later. Stay tuned for more updates until then.

That’s as per prominent leaker @eXtas1stv on Twitter, who claims that Valorant’s ongoing limited console beta is set to come to an end, with the game set to be shadow dropped on consoles later this week, on July 26. Riot Games itself hadn’t previously said much about when exactly the shooter would release for consoles, other than confirming that it would be coming at some point this year.

Valorant is currently available on PC. Riot Games has confirmed that the game will not feature gyro support on PS5, since the Xbox controller does not support the tech, and the studio wants to maintain competitive parity across all platforms. 

Meanwhile, the aforementioned leaker has also claimed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is headed to Game Pass later this week. Read more on that through here.

Responding to a question on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Palm stated that the game will not feature support for gyro aiming, since the Xbox Series X/S controller doesn’t have the hardware to support it.

“No gyro support for console, no,” said Palm, who went on to ask a player how well it works on PC. “It’s cool tech though, I also want to play around with it more. How long have you been using it on PC?”

Responding to another question on X, Palm stated that the lack of gyro aiming in the console release of Valorant wasn’t because it was a blind spot for the studio, but rather because the Xbox controller doesn’t support the feature.

“Not a blind spot for us fwiw, but it’s not supported on Xbox controllers natively,” he said. “If we leaned super hard into gyro being ‘the way to play’ on console we’d be heavily favoring PS5>Xbox, which we don’t want to do. Gyro tech is cool, especially with ratcheting, flick stick etc.”

The console release of Valorant was announced recently at Summer Game Fest. Currently there is no release date for the game on consoles, but the PS5 is getting a limited beta test for the game on June 14.

No gyro support for console, no. It’s cool tech though, I also want to play around with it more. How long have you been using it on PC?

— Coleman Palm (Altombre) (@Altombre) June 8, 2024

Not a blind spot for us fwiw, but it’s not supported on Xbox controllers natively. If we leaned super hard into gyro being “the way to play” on console we’d be heavily favoring PS5>Xbox, which we don’t want to do.

Gyro tech is cool, especially with ratcheting, flick stick etc.

— Coleman Palm (Altombre) (@Altombre) June 8, 2024

At Summer Game Fest, the developer announced that its free-to-play multiplayer shooter will release for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S at some point this year. Check out the brief trailer below, showcasing the game running on console.

A specific release date for Valorant’s console port is currently unknown, but Riot Games has announced a limited beta test for the game, releasing exclusively for PS5 on June 14. The beta will feature multiple modes in Unrated, Swiftplay, Customs, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch, with several maps being made available over the course of several weeks. Read more on that through here.