Valorant has been a hit on PC for its tactical, fast-paced action and strategic team play since launching from Riot Games. Riot has indicated the release of a console that will be available due to popular demand from their gaming community. The move to consoles introduces some new problems, especially in terms of getting the game working across different hardware setups, however, the more tantalizing update is a future one, an upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 (UE5).
More About Valorant Console and UE5 Upgrade
Valorant’s performance on PC has been stellar, offering smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware. However, each console has different optimization needs. PlayStation and Xbox, the two biggest platforms have a huge range of hardware differences. The game is going to have to be optimized so it runs smoothly on older consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox One but be beefed up enough to make full use of the power of other newer devices like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
But what remains especially challenging is keeping Valorant’s signature high frame rates and low input latency on all platforms. And, where Valorant can easily get you north of 144 FPS on a high-end PC, that’s probably not very feasible on a last-gen console. To keep the experient consistent across all consoles, Riot will probably have to use both variable resolution scaling and better texture streaming methods for every console. In order to launch on consoles, it would also need to solve one of the genre’s sticking points: Valorant is reliant on quick and accurate aiming for its gunfights, something which can be a lot easier with a mouse and keyboard than with controller input.
Although Valorant currently operates on Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), Riot Games announced that they will be moving to UE5 as well. This move boasts some pretty significant benefits, the most notable of which is that your graphics should get quite a bit prettier. Nanite and Lumen technologies of Unreal Engine 5 which enable dynamic global illumination and highly detailed environments respectively could significantly bolster the visuals offered by the game. However, given Valorant’s focus on competitive gameplay, it’s likely that Riot will prioritize performance over visual extravagance.
One of the key advantages of UE5 is its enhanced cross-platform capabilities, which will aid in maintaining parity between PC and console versions. With Valorant becoming available on more platforms, Riot can utilize UE5’s advanced tools for optimizing performance on different hardware configurations, ensuring a smoother and more consistent experience across all platforms.
A console release of Valorant could arrive in the near future, with optimization focused on maintaining the core gameplay experience across different platforms. The upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 promises not only better graphics but also improved performance, scalability, and cross-platform functionality. As Riot Games continues to develop the game, fans of the tactical shooter can look forward to a seamless gaming experience on both PC and consoles, with an even brighter future as the game transitions to the powerful UE5.
FAQs
When will Valorant be available on consoles?
Riot Games has not specified an exact release date for Valorant on consoles, but it is expected to arrive in the near future.
What improvements will Unreal Engine 5 bring to Valorant?
UE5 will enhance graphics and performance, offering better visuals and cross-platform capabilities while maintaining the game’s competitive gameplay focus.
