VALORANT Mobile hits major milestone with massive launch in China

VALORANT Mobile (Credit: Riot Games)

VALORANT Mobile has made a strong debut in China, recording over 170,000 downloads on iOS within its first 24 hours.

The mobile adaptation of Riot Games’ popular FPS was officially released in China on August 19th, and the response has been nothing short of impressive.

Alongside its strong download numbers, the title generated more than $1 million (~£780,000) in iOS in-app purchases on day one, according to a Bloomberg report citing Appfigures. Since Appfigures data only reflects Apple devices, the actual figures across platforms are likely much higher.

The game quickly rose to the top of China’s iOS charts, securing the number one spot for downloads while also ranking 7th in earnings and 14th in overall grossing apps.

Meanwhile, Riot Games hasn’t yet shared any timeline for a global launch, but this performance in China may help set the stage for an international release.

The game has been co-developed with Lightspeed Studios, best known for its work on PUBG Mobile. Built specifically for handheld play, VALORANT Mobile carries over familiar maps, agents, and weapons from its PC version while introducing changes like shorter match formats — requiring only eight rounds for a win compared to 13 on PC.

For the Chinese launch, Riot went all in by partnering with Canadian rapper BBNO$ for a dedicated music video, highlighting the importance of the market.

Looking ahead, esports will be a key focus. As per Esports Insider, Riot and Tencent’s joint venture, TJ Sports, has announced a hefty investment of 1.5bn RMB (~$200m / £150m) into building an esports ecosystem for the game in China. Plans include collegiate and national tournaments, with a national circuit expected to kick off in Q4 2025. In addition, Riot has partnered with OnePlus to host the first large-scale VALORANT Mobile event in the second half of 2025.