Valorant

Latest news

• Latest news VALORANT Aeris bundle adds magical-fantasy skins and a transforming melee

  The Aeris bundle for VALORANT introduces a modern magical-fantasy skin line with enchanted-card visuals and bespoke cardistry animations. It includes four weapon skins, a transforming melee called the Suit of Aeris that turns cards into daggers, swords and a greatsword, plus a finisher, a Flex, a player card and a Gun Buddy. The bundle expands in-game cosmetic options by adding animated effects and a unique melee transformation for players.

• Latest news Eintracht Frankfurt and Fire Flux clinch final VCT EMEA Stage 2 playoff spots

  Eintracht Frankfurt and Fire Flux Esports secured the last two berths in the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs, finalizing the eight-team bracket. The playoffs will run from August 20 to August 31. Both teams advanced through the Play-Ins as Challenger-league representatives, bringing Challengers into the main Stage 2 field.

• Latest news Tarik, Sentinels founder and ex-CS pro, pauses VALORANT watch parties

  Tarık "Tarik" Çelik announced he is stepping away from hosting VALORANT VCT watch parties after a multi-year run. He built his profile as an ex-Counter-Strike pro and Sentinels founder and became one of the most recognizable co-stream voices for VCT broadcasts. He posted on X that he will take a short break, then return to regular gaming streams and thanked fans and collaborators.

• Latest news NRG, Leviatán, 100 Thieves and LOUD clinch VCT Americas Stage 2 playoff berths

  The VCT 2026 Americas Stage 2 group stage concluded with NRG and Leviatán dominating Group Alpha while 100 Thieves and LOUD fought through Group Omega to claim the four direct playoff spots. All group-stage playoff slots for the Americas pool are now filled, setting the Stage 2 playoff bracket. Those playoff matchups will shape which Americas teams progress on the road to Champions Shanghai.

• Latest news VCT EMEA Barcelona Fan Fest Aug 28–30: booths, creators, mini-games outside Olympic Arena

  From Aug. 28–30 the VCT EMEA Barcelona Fan Fest will run in the area around the Olympic Arena during the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Finals, offering team booths, creator meet‑and‑greets, mini‑games, giveaways and partner activations. Fans who do not hold Finals tickets can still enter the fan fest area and participate. The fan fest adds hands‑on activities and opportunities to meet creators and teams, expanding the live VALORANT experience beyond the matches.

• Latest news Liga ACE-run VALORANT Challengers Americas LCQ Grand Final plagued by tech failures

  The Liga ACE-organized VALORANT Challengers Americas Last Chance Qualifier Grand Final on July 30 descended into hours of technical pauses, server breakdowns and repeated round rollbacks over a two-day final. The match awarded a single spot in the VCT Americas Stage 2 Play-Ins, making it a career-defining contest for Tier 2 players. Insiders responded with frustration about event management and the implications for Riot’s planned 2027 open ecosystem.

• Latest news kozzy and Kachoww set youngest-ace records in VCT 2026 EMEA Play-In

  Enterprise Esports' kozzy and Fire Flux Esports' Kachoww each became the youngest player to record an ace in VCT EMEA history within 48 hours during the VCT 2026: EMEA Stage 2 Play-In. Kachoww, 17, recorded an ace against PCIFIC Esports and a second ace against Team Heretics as Fire Flux won 2-1 to reach the Upper Bracket Final. kozzy later eclipsed that age mark to claim the youngest-ace title. Their performances guarantee at least one Challengers organization will reach the VCT EMEA Playoffs.

• Latest news GiantX survive Eintracht Frankfurt in VCT EMEA Play-Ins; westside flags slow starts

  GiantX defeated Challenger side Eintracht Frankfurt in a three-map VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-Ins series, moving the team closer to VALORANT Champions 2026. The match featured an early 0–6 deficit for GiantX in the opener, but they dominated on Lotus and recovered early deficits on the final two maps. GiantX rifler westside said the team must fix recurring poor starts and begin strong from the first round. The Play-Ins run Aug. 5–17 as a 12-team double-elimination bracket combining Group Stage teams and Regional Challenger qualifiers.

• Latest news Riot Games pulls Waylay from Valorant after Refract ability bug

  Riot Games has removed the agent Waylay from Valorant following a newly discovered issue with her Refract ability. The removal makes Waylay unavailable to players in live matches. Riot pulled the agent to prevent the Refract issue from affecting gameplay while the bug is addressed.

• Latest news Valorant 13.02 slightly tweaks Phoenix ultimate; new LTM delayed

  Valorant patch 13.02 has been released, introducing a slight adjustment to Phoenix's ultimate ability and postponing the scheduled limited-time mode (LTM). The tweak changes the ultimate's behavior in a small way, impacting players who rely on Phoenix in matches. The LTM delay removes the mode from this patch's content, pushing its arrival to a later update.

• Latest news Neo Frontier 2.0 returns with Western Vandal, Shorty skins and lasso melee

  Neo Frontier 2.0 returns to VALORANT as a new skin collection. It introduces Western-style skins for the Vandal and Shorty and adds a lasso melee. Price and release date have not been confirmed.

• Latest news Valorant streamer and ex-pro ardiis apologizes over comments about trans players

  Streamer and former Valorant pro ardiis apologized after making remarks about transgender players. Many viewers described the comments as transphobic. The remarks referenced trans players in VCT Game Changers.

• Latest news Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: transforming karts and a big SEGA roster

  Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a Mario Kart-style racer where vehicles transform into boats and planes mid-race. Developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega, it launched in 2013 and is commonly priced around $20. The game features a broad SEGA crossover cast, including characters from Shenmue, Crazy Taxi and Super Monkey Ball. The PC version is Steam Deck Verified; the review used a Core i7-6700K, 16GB RAM and GTX 980.

• Latest news VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 2: mid-July to late-August schedule and stakes

  VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 2 runs from mid-July to late August. Teams from Europe, Turkey and the Middle East compete for Champions qualification and circuit points. The event includes a Group Stage, Play-ins and Playoffs with schedules and live scores updated throughout.

• Latest news VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2: schedule, format and stakes

  VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2 runs July 16–Sept 6, 2026. Twelve teams in two groups play a group stage from July 16–Aug 9 in a single round-robin, best-of-three format. Playoffs then determine prize money, championship points and two spots at Champions Paris.

• Latest news Valorant 13.01 patch adds Outlaw tweak and tighter rank-manipulation penalties

  Riot has released Valorant patch 13.01. The update includes a balance change to the Outlaw rifle and introduces increased penalties for rank manipulation. Players should read the official patch notes for full details.

• Latest news Esports World Cup 2026 VALORANT: 16 teams, $2M prize pool in Paris

  VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026 features 16 teams competing for a $2 million prize pool in Paris. The tournament is currently underway and the bracket is progressing toward the Playoffs. Follow match results, prize distribution, and live streams for ongoing updates.

• Latest news Valorant anti-cheat head acknowledges increase in cheaters

  Players reported a rise in cheaters in Valorant over the past week. The game's head of anti-cheat responded and acknowledged that cheats have become more common.

• Latest news Schools introduce Valorant to teach teamwork and strategy

  Some schools have added Valorant to their curriculum. Educators are using the game to teach teamwork and strategic thinking. The change reflects gaming's growing role in education.

• Latest news EWC 2026 VALORANT groups set; group stage starts July 2, playoffs July 9

  VALORANT group-stage play at the Esports World Cup begins July 2. Sixteen teams are split into four groups, with the top two from each advancing. Single-elimination playoffs begin July 9. The event has a $2 million prize pool, with $600,000 for the winner.

• Latest news EWC 2026 Valorant begins with $600,000 top prize

  The Esports World Cup 2026 Valorant tournament is underway. High-profile teams and players are competing for a $600,000 first-place prize. Fans can follow streams, schedules, live results and team lineups as the event progresses.

• Latest news VALORANT weapon skin bundles: contents and buying benefits

  Since VALORANT’s 2020 global release, the in-game store periodically offers themed weapon skin bundles. Bundles include multiple weapon skins plus player cards, gun buddies, and sprays. Skins are purely cosmetic and don’t affect gameplay; bundles often provide discounts and free items compared to buying skins individually.

• Latest news VALORANT knife skins: list, types, and how to get them

  Dot Esports provides a complete list of VALORANT melee skins and explains how to obtain them. As of Season V26, Act Three (Patch 13.00) there are over 150 melee skins. Designs range from simple knives to animated, sound‑effect variants, and many are available via in‑game bundles or purchases.

• Latest news Valorant lets players switch Vanguard to on-demand, ending 24/7 run

  Riot is adding an on-demand mode for Vanguard, allowing players to stop its continuous background operation. The change ends Vanguard’s 24/7 presence on PCs. Riot says the update responds to long-standing player requests.

• Latest news Valorant 13.00 launches with major Sentinel and Initiator updates

  Patch 13.00 is live, bringing significant overhauls for Sentinels and Initiators plus tweaks to the Bandit pistol. The update focuses on agent role changes and weapon balance adjustments.

• Latest news Valorant unveils Summit map with droppable walls and Act 4 Competitive RR boost

  Riot Games has revealed Summit, a new Valorant map set in China that introduces droppable walls. The map arrives in Season 2026 Act 4. Competitive matches on Summit will carry a special RR boost during Act 4.

• Latest news Valorant disables Cypher after Spycam camera bug returns

  Riot Games has disabled Cypher from active play in Valorant after a recurring bug with his Spycam cameras reappeared. The issue affects Cypher's camera functionality and can impact gameplay. Riot is investigating the problem and preparing a fix.

• Latest news Grandmother streams Valorant daily to fund late daughter's headstone

  A grandmother has returned to streaming Valorant every day to raise money for a headstone for her late daughter, Brooke. She publicly revealed that fundraising is the reason for restarting daily streams. The story was reported by Dexerto Valorant.

• Latest news Valorant 12.10 adds replay-sharing with friends

  Riot Games released Valorant patch 12.10. The update centers on a replay-sharing feature that lets players share match replays with friends. Patch notes present this as the update’s primary focus.

• Latest news Riot faces backlash after claiming Vanguard can 'brick' cheating hardware

  Riot Games is facing criticism after it said its Vanguard anti-cheat can effectively “brick” cheating hardware used in games such as Valorant. The comment prompted pushback from parts of the community. Riot has issued a response to the backlash.