Valorant Mobile Launch Surpasses 170,000 Downloads and 1 Million Dollars in Revenue

21 Aug

Andre Guaraldo

Valorant Mobile officially launched in China, delivering one of the strongest mobile game debuts in recent years. The shooter generated $1 million in iOS revenue within 24 hours and recorded around 170,000 iPhone downloads, quickly reaching the #1 spot on Apple’s download chart and placing among the top 10 grossing games, currently at #7.

Launch record expected after pre-registration phase

The release follows the overwhelming anticipation, with over 70 million pre-registrations, one of the highest amounts in Chinese mobile gaming history. Valorant Mobile was co-developed by Riot Games and Tencent’s Lightspeed Studios, the same team behind PUBG Mobile.

At launch, the game includes 18 agents, seven maps from the PC version, 10 game modes, and exclusive mobile-only maps. Technical highlights include up to 120 FPS support, fortified anti-cheat systems, and advanced communication tools to ensure smooth team-based gameplay on mobile.

Esports scene and long-term investment

Riot and Tencent are committing $200 million over three years to build China’s Valorant Mobile competitive ecosystem, starting with a National Circuit in Q4 2025. The investment covers collegiate competitions, pro leagues, and event infrastructure, positioning China as the central hub for future Valorant Mobile esports.

This move is the exact opposite of VALORANT's PC version strategy, and launching first there can be explained due to China being the world’s largest mobile gaming market ($42.3 billion in 2023 revenue). Added to that, VALORANT has already strong PC presence in China, and the mobile version leverages Tencent’s market dominance to expand its reach.

Industry outlook for Valorant Mobile

Although its day-one earnings trail other major Tencent titles like Dungeon and Fighters Mobile, analysts see Valorant Mobile as a long-term competitive title rather than an immediate revenue driver. Future rollouts are coming in regions like Southeast Asia, Korea, and North America, with performance in China serving as the key benchmark for global expansion.

The launch of Valorant Mobile in China is a major success, combining strong revenue, record-breaking registrations, and rapid chart dominance. Backed by Tencent and Riot’s long-term esports investment, the title has a lot of potential as a revenue stream and a potential global leader in mobile competitive gaming.

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Featured image credits: Riot Games