Riot Games reveals how it will add new characters and maps to Valorant and suggests that new releases could really change the gameplay.


Riot Games reveals its plans for adding new characters and maps to Valorant. The developer officially announced Valorant yesterday, prompting many to wonder if the new game could take down Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch.

Speaking to Polygon, Valorant producer John Goscicki said that players likely won't have to wait up to 12 months for a new character. Each new character "changes the way you’ll see and play the game," said Goscicki and the team doesn't want to "add a character for the sake of adding a character."
Riot has confirmed some Valorant characters such as Viper who uses poison and gas to damage enemies and Phoenix who can throw fireballs and it will likely take players a while before they become great at playing them. However, other hero shooters have been heavily criticized for the amount of time between new character releases and Riot won't want to upset fans by doing the same.


Blizzard was criticized for the way that it revealed Overwatch character Sombra. The developer began to release teasers but it had not expected fans to solve the clues so quickly. This meant that there were several months between the first teaser and the official reveal at BlizzCon. The teasers should have been fun for fans but they quickly turned into frustration.

There will also be several new characters and maps in Overwatch 2. The excitement of these new releases could potentially be an issue for Valorant and Riot may have to add something new to the game then so that it doesn't lose fans.

Valorant's new maps may also come a year after launch, said senior game designer Salvatore Garozzo. The team is "thinking anywhere in the range of six months to 12 months" before it releases a new map, but this could change once the game has been released. Riot Games has confirmed a summer 2020 release date for Valorant and it has announced a closed beta. If fans who play the game in the beta or at launch say that the game really needs a new map soon, the team will try to release one "faster."

Riot has to create updates as it thinks of two different types of players. The company is rumored to be planning an event where it shows pro gamers and streamers Valorant gameplay which suggests that Riot is planning something like Blizzard's Overwatch League or like its own LCS. This means that any new Valorant characters or maps will have to make pros and all other players happy. That could be difficult and it may be why Riot doesn't know how long it will take to release them.