Valorant, a widely-played hero shooter game, turned five. For its fifth anniversary celebration, Riot Games Philipines honors Filipino players and gaming communities that have shaped the local scene of Valo (that's what Pinoy gamers usually call it).
From June to July 2025, the celebration will include various player-focused online and offline activities showcasing Valorant's impact on local culture through art, music, and creative expression.
Don't also forget to redeem Valorant codes for June 2025 to claim in-game items (title, cosmetic, player cards) for free.
5 Years of Thrilling Matches
After its Closed Beta introduction as "Project A" during the global pandemic, Valorant became one of the most famous tactical shooters. Five years after its launch, the game had 35 million monthly active players and 70 percent Gen Z users.
With 27 Agents (characters) from 21 countries, Valorant offers exhilarating competitive play and diverse gaming communities and cultures. After its season-ender championship competition in 2024, Champions Seoul shattered records with 9.1 million (peak) and 44.3 million unique viewers, and it became the world's most-watched FPS e-sport.
Further, Valorant has won Best Esports Game at The Game Awards in 2022 and 2023, Esports Game of the Year in 2024, and a 2025 Sports Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage for VCT Champions 2024 Grand Finals. Esports Game Title of the Year went to Valorant at the 2024 Philippine Esports Awards. These awards demonstrate how Valo transformed shooter esports from entirely virtual tournaments to arena-shaking worldwide events.
Last year, Valorant debuted on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in the US, Canada, Europe, Brazil, and Japan. In April 2025, Riot Games announced that the Valorant Mobile would initially launch in China.
The Valo PH Community
Valorant has evolved from a tactical shooter in the Philippines into a shared experience for various gamers. It has created a passionate local community and a global Filipino talent boom. This rise is visible with all-Filipino Team Secret participating globally, NAOS finishing second in a Challengers split, and local players joining Global Esports. Recently, former NAOS member Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza joined the Southeast Asia team Paper Rex, helping them secure a spot on Valorant Masters Toronto 2025.
Jason Roberto, Valorant PH brand manager, said:
Our anniversary celebration aims to relive the many moments that we made with Valorant over the last five years, and make every Filipino gamer take pride in the important role they have been playing in bringing Valorant to where it is today, and, of course, show our players that the best is yet to come for Valorant. From late-night compshop grinds to memes that made their way into the game, culture, and fan-made content, our players and fans have given the game a uniquely Pinoy flavor. This is how we recognize and remember their stories—the grind, the growth, and the good times—their own answers to the question 'bakit Valo'.
Online and Offline Activities
Valorant's 5th birthday offers community-driven, multi-layered online and offline encounters in the Philippines. The events will highlight memorable gameplay moments, fan-made content, and the game's impact on Pinoy player culture through storytelling, cultural expression, and digital activations. The campaign's fundamental question is, "Why Valorant?"
Since June 2, 2025, Valorant has celebrated its fifth anniversary. Riot PH released a tribute video featuring art, gameplay footage, iconic community interactions, and esports achievements that influenced the game over the past five years. Next is "Humans of Valorant," a mini-docu and visual story series highlighting average gamers whose lives were impacted by the game. A game culture segment featuring interviews with creators like Razzie, Amara, and Damods, who evolved with Valorant and now give back to the community, concludes the web series.
The celebration begins with the installation of vivid murals at the Tenement Taguig Basketball Court, hand-painted by acclaimed illustrator and muralist Jappy Agoncillo. Agoncillo, a New York street art legend, and other famous painters use compelling murals to bring local moments that inspired the Pinoy Valo scene to life. As a fun finale, Valorant will turn jeepneys into mobile karaoke booths, bringing its sound and enthusiasm to the streets.
Every player can celebrate Valorant's 5th anniversary, whether they're a veteran Duelist, a team-building Controller, or a content creator who helped define the scene.
Jason Roberto shared:
In the Philippines, we don't say 'Laro tayo,' we say 'Tara, Valo', and that says everything. This campaign is a thank-you letter to every Filipino player. They are not just part of the story, they are the story.
For the latest updates, follow the official Valorant Facebook and Instagram pages. Join also the celebration by using #TaraVALO on social media.
I love Valo, from its less demanding specs for PC to its quick Spike Rush matches, and I have played the game, though not consistently since its launch. How about you? Comment your experience or wishes for Valorant below. – PinoyTechSaga
0 Comments