After nearly four years of anticipation and silence, Riot Games has finally announced that their popular tactical hero shooter, Valorant, is making its way to mobile devices. The development is being spearheaded by Tencent-owned Lightspeed Studios, with an initial release strategy focused on China, hinting at a broader rollout in the future.

Valorant distinguishes itself as a hybrid between Counter-Strike and Overwatch, offering a unique blend of precise tactical gunplay and diverse agent abilities. The game's core mode is a 13-round, 5v5 match where players engage in a high-stakes competition, with each round allowing only one life per player. This setup is further enriched by objectives that involve defusing or planting bombs, a familiar mechanic for fans of Counter-Strike.

The collaboration between Riot and Lightspeed is a natural fit, given their mutual ownership under Tencent. This official announcement brings a welcome end to the long wait for news on Valorant Mobile.

With Android's widespread popularity in China, a multi-OS release seems almost certain. Riot has confirmed that development is underway with Lightspeed and that the initial launch will be in China. This news suggests a global release could follow, although current trade and smartphone market issues may delay international availability.

While we eagerly await further updates on when Valorant will be available worldwide on mobile, fans with an itch for action don't have to wait idly. Dive into our curated list of the best shooters available on Android and iOS to keep your skills sharp until Valorant arrives on your device.