Competitive gamers and FPS enthusiasts alike are eager to jump into Valorant, the upcoming release from Riot Games. If you haven’t heard, the development team is currently using a unique beta model that requires potential players to watch streams in order to gain beta access. However, you can still download Valorant on your PC right now, if you so choose. Here’s how the process works.
How to download the Valorant game client on PC
It’s possible to download Valorant on your PC without having a code for the beta. All you need is a valid Riot Games account and some spare room on your hard drive. However, even if you download it now, you won’t be able to start playing Valorant without a beta key.
ALSO: Do you need Twitch Prime to get Valorant?
Here’s what you need to do in order to download the Valorant game client:
- Head to the official Valorant website
- If you have an account, log in. If not, make one
- Under the heading “Am I in the beta,” click “Check your status”
- Finally, choose the third “Download and play” option to download Valorant to your PC
After download and installation, you’ll be able to launch the game client. However, if you don’t have a beta key, you won’t be able to log in. The client will simply say it’s unable to access the game. If you want to actually start playing, you’ll need to earn a closed beta key by watching eligible streams over on Twitch. For more information on how that works, check out our guide to Valorant beta sign-up invites.
There is one more stipulation: The Valorant beta is currently only available in select territories. These include the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Turkey. For everyone else, the client will simply deny access to the game.
Yes, it is possible to download Valorant on your PC without having a beta key. Just don’t expect to be able to play it unless you’re one of the chosen few to receive beta access. Otherwise, you’ll simply have to wait. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on how long the beta period is supposed to last — nor for when the game will actually launch.
