VALORANT Mobile is off to a spectacular start in China, reportedly amassing over 170,000 downloads on iOS on its first day.
The FPS title’s mobile version was released exclusively in China on August 19th and has already recorded more than $1m (~£780,000) revenue from in-app purchases on iOS devices, as per a report by Bloomberg citing data from Appfigures.
Since Appfigures only tracks data from Apple devices in China, the overall stats for VALORANT Mobile’s launch are likely much higher.
The game has already become the most-downloaded app on iOS and has also climbed to become the seventh highest-earning title and14th grossing app in the store.
As VALORANT Mobile looks to compete with the likes of CrossFire Mobile and COD Mobile in the FPS genre, this push could really help solidify its positioning within the mobile esports scene.
Furthermore, its success in the Chinese market could also set the precedent for the upcoming global launch. However, Riot Games is yet to announce the worldwide release date
Riot went all out for VALORANT Mobile’s launch in China, even teaming up with Canadian rapper BBNO$ on a dedicated music video.
VALORANT Mobile has been co-developed by Riot Games alongside Lightspeed Studios. The latter also developed PUBG Mobile, showcasing its immense experience in bringing PC games to mobile.
The game has been designed from the ground up for mobile devices. It features almost the same maps, agents, and weapons, although there are differences in number of rounds played and match lengths. It takes just eight rounds to win a game in VALORANT Mobile as opposed to 13 rounds in its PC version.
VALORANT Mobile Esports is the Next Focus
With VALORANT Mobile being developed as a separate title, the esports ecosystem for the game is expected to be completely distinct as well.
Riot and Tencent, through their joint venture TJ Sports, have already committed to developing an esports scene in China. The companies have announced plans to invest 1.5bn RMB (~$200m / £150m) into collegiate and national level tournaments.
TJ Sports is set to launch a national Chinese circuit for VALORANT Mobile in Q4 2025. Moreover, Riot has also partnered with OnePlus to host the ‘first mass event’ for VALORANT Mobile in the second half of 2025.
With these tournaments set to happen, fans can expect similar plans for the game’s global version when it launches as well.
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