Valorant Mobile: Will It Be Another Mobile Gaming Disaster or a Breakthrough Success?

Valorant Mobile launched in China in August 2025 with $1M first-day revenue. Will Riot's tactical shooter succeed globally or join failed PC-to-mobile
Valorant Mobile: Will It Be Another Mobile Gaming Disaster or a Breakthrough Success?
Riot Games has officially entered the mobile gaming arena with Valorant Mobile, launching exclusively in China on August 19, 2025, and generating over $1 million in revenue within its first 24 hours. With approximately 170,000 downloads on day one and ranking as the top iPhone app in China, the tactical shooter has made a promising start. However, the mobile gaming graveyard is filled with high-profile failures from beloved PC franchises, raising critical questions about whether Valorant Mobile will replicate its PC success or become another cautionary tale.​ The Chinese Launch: Early Success Indicators The China-exclusive release represents a strategic testing ground for Riot Games and its development partner, Tencent's Lightspeed Studios. The numbers paint an encouraging picture for a mobile game launch, with first-day revenue reaching $1 million despite being a free-to-play title that monetizes through in-app purchases and character cosmetics. While this figure is roughly one-fif…