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Valorant and Concord were both developed over several years, with ambitious goals to dominate the tactical shooter genre. While the hero shooter’s launch ended in disaster, the Tac FPS’s rise to fame has been spectacular.

How did two games, both developed in similar time frames, have such drastically different outcomes? Valorant’s success lies in its careful planning, its understanding of player needs, and the strategic decisions Riot Games made to keep the players happy.

Valorant Has Been a Highlight of The Competitive Online Gaming Scene

Valorant‘s development began in 2014, under the code name “Project A.” The Riot team wanted to make a tactical FPS that would appeal to a big audience, from casual players to competitive veterans. By prioritizing gameplay, user accessibility, and the game’s esports potential, Riot made sure it was built on solid foundations.

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And as the game has evolved, Riot has introduced new content via patches, taken care of balancing issues, and improved accessibility, making it more appealing to a diverse range of players. The game’s recent release on console has also enlarged the player count.

On the other hand, Concord lacked such direction. Described as “the future of PlayStation,” the game suffered from internal mismanagement and “toxic positivity.” (via the Sacred Symbols podcast) The game was massively underwhelming and had a price tag in a usually free-to-play genre, which led to its downfall.

Valorant‘s release in June 2020 coincided with a global pandemic, which unexpectedly played into its favor. With many people stuck indoors and looking for new entertainment, the game’s accessible and free-to-play model attracted millions of players.

Entire History of Valorant in Under 60s! (2014-2023)
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Concord on the other hand launched in 2024, but its timing couldn’t have been worse. Despite being in development since 2020, the game was pulled offline within two weeks of its release due to extremely negative feedback. the game’s mismanagement in terms of timing and marketing was one of the reasons it couldn’t establish a strong foothold.

Riot’s Success Over Two Mainstream Games Is Impressive

Another key aspect of Valorant’s success was its approach to esports. Riot quickly realized the game’s potential as a competitive platform and made the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) in 2020, just months after the game’s release. Firewalk Studios didn’t even get the chance to think of that with its game.

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The tournament structure, divided into Challengers, Masters, and Champions stages, created a clear path for aspiring teams to rise through the ranks. This commitment to the esports scene brought more lasting player engagement. And now we have people like TenZ who are the face of the game.

The consistent updates and balance changes meant that the game was always evolving, making it engaging for both players and viewers. The game also benefited from Riot’s extensive experience in managing League of Legends esports, borrowing elements of its league system and event organization.

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Riot’s smart business model for the game also contributes to its long-term success. Although the game is free-to-play, Riot uses other monetization options through cosmetics and battle passes. The constant stream of skins may seem like nothing but people pay up for them.

Riot succeeded because it understood its audience and focused on delivering a game that didn’t try to be something else. Riot didn’t try to reinvent the wheel but instead built on the foundations of tactical shooters, offering something both familiar and new.

What do you think of the comparison between the two? Let us know in the comments!