Riot Games to invest $200m in VALORANT Mobile esports scene

Rabia Sayal
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VALORANT Mobile China $200 million esports investment
Image Credits: Riot Games, Tencent

Ahead of VALORANT Mobile’s launch in China, Riot Games and Tencent have announced plans to invest 1.5bn RMB (~$200m / £150m) over the next three years to grow its esports ecosystem. 

Multiple tournaments across national and collegiate levels open to everyone will be part of the roadmap, along with regular co-branded events in China.

VALORANT Mobile’s efforts to push its esports ecosystem in China are already pretty evident from the fact that multiple events have already been organised during the game’s closed beta testing.

Bobby Jin Yibo, CEO of TJ Sports and Head of VALORANT Mobile’s publishing at Tencent, also unveiled features such as a replay system, cheat detection and real-time penalty systems that will be added to maintain competitive integrity.

Apart from this, hardware fingerprint detection has also been implemented to prevent the use of macros and keyboard-mouse mapping.

“The game aims to recreate PC-level competition while building a player-centered, creativity-driven, esports-powered ecosystem that spans all skill levels,” Bobby Jin Yibo stated.

VALORANT Mobile release date in China

VALORANT Mobile Release Date
Image Credits: Riot Games, Tencent

VALORANT Mobile China is scheduled to release on August 19th on iOS and Android, according to the official announcement made during 2025 ChinaJoy Gaming Festival. The game has already surpassed 60m pre-registrations.

However, details about its global launch are still under wraps. Speaking about the team’s focus on China despite a massive global demand, Anna Donlon, Head of VALORANT Studios, said: “Since VALORANT launched in China in 2023, I’ve seen firsthand how vibrant and world-class the Chinese player base is. So, it’s not just about the size of the market—it’s about the passion of the players here.”

VALORANT Mobile will launch with 18 agents, seven maps from VALORANT PC, two platform exclusive Deathmatch maps, and 10 game modes. 

While the game already looks pretty optimised, the developers have promised to bring further improvements across gameplay and social features based on player feedback, along with regular content updates.

Disclaimer: The information above has been translated from Chinese, so there may be slight variations in the official wording.

Rabia Sayal

Editor
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Rabia is an Editor for Esports Insider and a freelance on-screen VALORANT desk analyst and interviewer. When she's not working, you’ll find her rewatching Marvel movies and crushing on Elizabeth Olsen and Scarlett Johansson.
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