No. 07Tactical team shooter
VALORANT: light on hardware, strict about the kit
Riot's five-a-side tactical shooter runs on very modest Windows PCs and on PS5 and Xbox Series, but its kernel-level anti-cheat rules out everything else.
01 · the kit listWhere VALORANT plays
One of the lightest games on the list for a Windows PC, and absent from almost everything else. The Vanguard anti-cheat means no Steam Deck, Linux, Mac or cloud streaming.
- Desktop PCPlays
Riot client on 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. Windows 11 also needs TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, because of the Vanguard anti-cheat.
- Everyday laptopPlays
The minimum is Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, aiming at 30 frames a second.
- Steam DeckNot available · Not supported
Not on Steam, and Vanguard cannot run on Linux.
- PlayStation 5Plays
Console edition since August 2024: controller only, playing with Xbox players but never against PC.
- Xbox Series X|SPlays
Console edition on Series X|S, sharing matches with PS5.
- Nintendo Switch 2Not available
Not on Nintendo hardware.
- Phone & tabletNot available
The mobile version has launched only in China.
- MacNot available
Windows only.
- Cloud streamingNot available
Riot says VALORANT does not support cloud play or virtual machines.
02 · on a PCWhat your PC needs
- System
- Windows 10 (build 19041+) or Windows 11, 64-bit
- Processor
- Core i3-540 or Athlon 200GE
- Memory
- 4 GB
- Graphics
- Intel HD 4000 or Radeon R5 220
- Also
- Targets 30 frames a second
- System
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
- Processor
- Core i3-4150 or Ryzen 3 1200
- Memory
- 4 GB
- Graphics
- GeForce GT 730 or Radeon R7 240
- Also
- Targets 60; a GTX 1050 Ti targets 144
Published by Riot Games. Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. ARM PCs are not supported. Official requirements.
03 · the verdictEvery bullet counts
VALORANT is Riot Games' tactical team shooter. Two teams of five take turns attacking and defending, planting or defusing a device called the Spike across a series of short rounds, and a single well-placed shot decides most fights. Each player picks an agent whose abilities, a smoke wall, a scouting drone, a healing orb, shape how the team takes space.
It rewards calm, precise play and good communication more than raw reflexes, and it is at its best with a regular group. Competitive matches take around half an hour or more; shorter modes help when time is tight.
Every agent can be unlocked through play. The shop sells weapon skins at high prices, and a rotating Night Market offers discounts on a random selection, though you always see the item before buying.
Kit is the big constraint. VALORANT runs on Windows PCs, including modest ones, and on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series with a controller-focused console edition. Its kernel-level anti-cheat, Vanguard, means there is no Steam Deck, Linux or Mac version, and it is not offered through cloud streaming.
Start it if…
you enjoy tactical, precise shooting with a regular team and a Windows PC or current console.
Skip it if…
you play on a Steam Deck, Mac or Linux, or you would rather not run kernel-level anti-cheat.
04 · the score7.4 out of 10, and why
05 · the billWhat it costs in the UK
| Store | What you get | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| All platforms | VALORANT | Free | |
| PlayStation Store | 475 VALORANT Points | £3.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | 1,000 VALORANT Points | £7.99 | One battle pass |
| PlayStation Store | 11,000 VALORANT Points | £79.99 |
Online play on consoles
- PlayStation
- Not needed; free to play
- Xbox
- Not needed; free to play
- Nintendo
- Not on Nintendo hardware
What the shop sells
VALORANT Points buy weapon skins, agents (also earnable), accessories and the 1,000-point battle pass. The daily store and the occasional Night Market offer a random selection of skins, the latter at a discount, but you always see the item and price before you buy, so nothing sold has random contents.
PEGI purchase descriptor: In-game purchases.
There are no editions. Every agent can be unlocked by playing; money only buys cosmetics and the battle pass.
06 · starting in 2026The biggest patch of the year, just landed
Patch 13.06 on 22 September 2026, which Riot called its biggest of the year, merged the home and lobby screens and added a performance score and new practice tools. A new map entered competitive play in June.
Patch 12.00 started Season 2026 with a reworked Breeze and a new sidearm. Source.
Patch 13.00 brought the new map Summit into competitive rotation. Source.
Patch 13.06 merged home and lobby, replaced ACS with a performance score and added practice in queue. Source.
Riot's notes promise mode-select changes and map ratings in 13.08 and competitive updates in 14.00, without dates.
07 · strengths and catchesWorth knowing
Strengths
- Precise, readable gunplay with clever abilities
- Runs well on modest Windows PCs
- All agents can be earned by playing
- A console edition for PS5 and Xbox Series
Catches
- Windows and console only: no Steam Deck, Mac or cloud
- Weapon skins are expensive
- Competitive matches are long and demanding
08 · first stepsBefore your first session
- Play the tutorial and practice range to learn stopping before shooting; moving shots miss.
- Start with an agent whose abilities are simple, such as a sentinel or a smoke user.
- Use the shorter unrated and swift modes to learn the maps.
- On Windows 11, check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are on before installing, as Vanguard requires them.
09 · screenshotsHow it looks
Screenshots: official, © Riot Games.
10 · questionsCommon questions
Will VALORANT run on my laptop?
Probably, if it runs Windows. Its minimum is Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics and 4 GB of memory, aiming at 30 frames a second.
Can I play VALORANT on Steam Deck or Mac?
No. It needs Windows and the Vanguard anti-cheat, which cannot run on Linux or macOS.
Do PS5 and Xbox players play against PC?
No. Console players play together, but never against PC. Skins and progress are shared with PC on the same Riot account; rank is not.
Does VALORANT sell random items?
No. The daily store and Night Market show a random selection of skins, but you see each item and its price before buying.