On July 15, Riot Games released the open beta version of Valorant for PS5 and Xbox Series S/X players. As expected, the PC version differs from what we see on consoles, as it has been adapted for controllers to facilitate navigation and control. In this material, we will examine the main differences related to controls, game mechanics, graphics, and other changes.
Main Differences Between Valorant on PC and Consoles
Riot Games always strives to support its players, and the release of the console version is a great example. During the beta testing phase, users note many differences between the console and PC versions. More significant differences may appear in the future, but for now, we have prepared some key points that exist at the moment:
- Controls: The console version is adapted for gamepads, changing the dynamics and perception of the game.
- Interface: The interface has been redesigned for ease of use on large screens.
- Graphics: Visual effects are optimized for console hardware, ensuring stable performance.
- Social Features: Enhanced features for interacting with friends.
Expect more innovations in the future to further improve your gaming experience.
Peripherals
The first and quite obvious difference is the absence of keyboard and mouse support for playing Valorant on consoles. The game does not support such connections and lacks in-game settings to ensure fair matches for both console newcomers and seasoned PC gamers.
Even using workaround peripherals, as warned by Riot Games, could result in a ban, and the same applies to PC fans. Although reverse connections are possible, they are also punishable by a ban. Riot Games' policy prohibits using third-party devices not directly supported by the game, so your account may be at risk of permanent blocking if you try to bypass these rules.
Rank Absence
While you can fully transfer your account from PC to the console version of the game, you'll have to forget about your rank achievements and start from scratch. You cannot transfer your rank when switching platforms, similar to losing it when transferring your account to another server.
Fortunately, on June 26, Riot Games released patch 9.0, which finally added various game modes, including competitive play, allowing you to achieve your desired rank even in the beta version of Valorant.
Ability Placement
Another surprise for players transitioning from the PC version to the console will be a small change in ability placement. By looking at the bottom panel where agent abilities are located, you may notice they are arranged in a different order.
According to the developers, this was done to enhance perception and control on the controller. Previously, most abilities were placed intuitively for PC players. However, with the console version, the setup needed to accommodate controllers, which requires different ability placements, and Riot Games has addressed this.
You will need to readapt and learn how to correctly use abilities, such as Sova's recon bolt or Viper's snake bite.
Menus Have Different Layouts
In Valorant, there are differences in controls and interface between PC and consoles. On consoles, there is no dedicated "Play" tab like on PC. Instead, you need to press a button to exit the menu and start matchmaking. Additionally, the in-game purchase menu layout is different: item placement varies. New players might need time to get used to this, as many things may seem out of place when first launching the game on a console.
Console Introduces New "Focus" Shooting Mode
Riot Games has made efforts to level the playing field between console and PC players. On consoles, where aiming is more challenging, they added "Aim Assist" and the "Focus" mode. This mode resembles hip-fire but with smoother and more precise control, allowing players to manage the controller more accurately. This innovation improves shooting quality, bringing it closer to mouse results on PC. These changes make gameplay on consoles more comfortable and competitive.
Patches/Updates Differ for Valorant on PC and Consoles
Although the game hasn't been officially released yet, and it's early to judge, observing the beta testing of Valorant on consoles, it's clear that patch release dates for the two platforms might differ. Developers may eventually synchronize this aspect, with an experienced team working on console patches.
As we can see, the console version is just beginning to gain content transferred from the PC, and the game is still quite raw. However, with the official release, whose date is still uncertain, everything could change dramatically.
Conclusion
While Valorant on PC and consoles shares the same core mechanics, differences in controls, graphics, and dynamics create a sense of novelty. PC players gain advantages in precision and customization, while console players enjoy more relaxed and stable gameplay. These differences allow Valorant's community to expand across platforms. It will be interesting to see how the competitive scene develops and adapts on consoles.
Comments