VALORANT Mobile Esports Tournament Announced in China with OnePlus

Riot Games has officially announced the first-ever esports tournament for VALORANT Mobile, set to take place in China during the second half of 2025.

This marks a major milestone in the mobile expansion of Riot’s popular 5v5 tactical shooter, following months of speculation and beta testing.

OnePlus Named Official Partner for VALORANT Mobile Tournament

The upcoming tournament is part of a new strategic partnership between Riot Games and smartphone manufacturer OnePlus. 

As announced at a press event (via Weibo) by Jin Yibo, CEO of Teng Jing Sports, and Tencent’s esports operations head, the OnePlus Ace 5 Supreme will serve as the official smartphone for the event.

According to Riot, the collaboration is focused on delivering a premium gameplay experience tailored to mobile esports:

“VALORANT Mobile is committed to creating a creative competitive stage, allowing players to fully demonstrate smooth operations and precise shooting,” Riot stated (Thanks Esports Insider).

While an exact tournament date hasn't been confirmed, Riot has provided a tentative roadmap:

• 📍 June 2025: Closed beta testing in China

• 📍 June 2025: Offline demo event in Shanghai using the OnePlus Ace 5 Supreme

• 📍 July 2025: First open pre-release tournament in Qingdao

Is There a Global Release Date for VALORANT Mobile?

Currently, VALORANT Mobile is only available for pre-registration in China. The game’s global launch date has not been revealed, and it's unlikely to debut internationally until late 2025 or beyond.

Anna Donlon, Head of VALORANT Studios, previously explained Riot’s strategy:

“China has one of the largest and most competitive mobile FPS communities in the world… Since Lightspeed is already a trusted developer in the region, we think it makes sense to start more locally, where their mobile expertise shines.”

This approach mirrors how other mobile titles like PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings gained massive traction through a phased, region-specific rollout.

China is a key market due to its dominant mobile gaming ecosystem, with mobile esports generating significant revenue ($139.2 billion in 2024). Valorant Mobile’s debut in China capitalizes on this, especially after the PC version’s successful launch in July 2023, which saw record-breaking viewership and active users. The mobile version aims to replicate this success, with the potential to expand globally post-beta.