Ranked play, competitive mode coming to Valorant next week

Since Valorant’s official release, competitive players have eagerly anticipated the introduction of the game’s official ranked system. The community’s excitement has been building steadily as players sought to test their skills in a structured competitive environment.

Initially, Riot Games indicated the competitive mode would arrive following several updates, creating uncertainty about the exact timeline. Game director Joe Ziegler recently provided clarity through social media, confirming that ranked play would debut in Riot’s tactical shooter within days.

“Development has been incredibly busy, limiting my communication time. To address the most frequent inquiry: competitive matchmaking should become available during the upcoming week,” Ziegler announced via Twitter.

He emphasized that the development team has dedicated the current week to finalizing the release and ensuring quality standards are met.

Hey everyone, It’s been hectic, so I haven’t had a lot of time to post. To answer the biggest question: rated (competitive mode) will likely be out some time next week. We’re spending this week putting together that release and making sure it is good. =)

— Ziegler (@RiotZiegler)
June 15, 2020

The announcement generated immediate enthusiasm throughout the competitive gaming community. Professional competitors and content creators expressed their excitement across various platforms. T1’s Michael “Sonii” Sherman, previously known for his Apex Legends expertise, particularly highlighted his anticipation for this specific update.

“I plan to consume significant caffeine on ranked mode’s debut day and compete until Valorant dominates my entire consciousness!” he declared on social media, sharing an image of Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation.

I’m gonna take so much fkn’ caffeine day 1 of ranked and play till I bleed VALORANT OUT OF MY EYESSSSSSSAHHHHEUDHCBDBW
pic.twitter.com/81R55wpSDu

— T1 SONII (@sonii)
June 15, 2020

This level of excitement demonstrates how seriously competitive players take ranked implementation. Understanding proper preparation can significantly impact your initial placement matches and subsequent ranking progression.

Ranked mode coming to Valorant’s full release

Although competitive matchmaking existed during Valorant’s closed beta phase, developers clarified early that the official release wouldn’t immediately include ranked play. This strategic delay allowed newer participants who missed the beta period to develop their skills alongside experienced players, while providing Riot additional development time to refine the competitive system.

Riot Games provided additional details to Polygon regarding planned ranking tier modifications, particularly addressing confusion around the highest tier’s naming convention. Since the top rank shared the game’s title “Valorant,” many community members found this nomenclature problematic. Senior designer Sean Szopinski explained that initially, Valorant appeared as an “exceptionally compelling designation” for the pinnacle rank during early conceptual discussions.

“What could represent a more impressive achievement than ascending through competitive tiers, striving to embody the elite and heroic Valorant archetype, essentially personifying the game’s core identity! However, community feedback correctly identified the potential confusion. We acknowledge the issue completely and will implement changes for the official launch,” Szopinski stated.

He further revealed to Polygon that the updated ranking experience will feature “enhanced engagement mechanics” this iteration. Szopinski detailed how current Valorant competitors lack meaningful incentives to continue playing after achieving the maximum rank. While maintaining victory streaks provides no additional rewards or methods to compete against fellow elite players, defeat results in losing their distinguished status without substantial consequences. This dynamic will reportedly undergo significant changes with next week’s update.

These developments represent excellent news for elite competitors like Daniel “Dafran” Francesca. Should he return from his temporary hiatus, he would undoubtedly appreciate having meaningful competitive objectives beyond reaching the maximum rank. The prominent streamer previously revised his initial positive Valorant assessments, commenting that achieving the Valorant tier “doesn’t present significant difficulty.”

Strategic Preparation Tips: Begin practicing with your main agents in unrated matches to refine your gameplay mechanics. Focus on mastering map control, economic management, and team coordination strategies. Understanding agent synergies and developing consistent aim through dedicated training routines will provide competitive advantages during placement matches.

Avoid These Common Mistakes: Don’t queue for ranked immediately without warming up. Avoid playing unfamiliar agents in competitive matches. Never neglect communication with your team, as coordinated strategies often determine match outcomes.

Advanced Optimization: Elite players should concentrate on developing specialized agent expertise rather than maintaining broad but shallow hero pools. Study professional gameplay patterns and adapt successful strategies to your playstyle. For comprehensive agent selection guidance, check out our Class Guide to understand strategic role distribution.

Time Investment Estimates: Expect to dedicate 2-3 hours daily for consistent rank improvement. Placement matches typically require 5-10 games to establish initial ranking, with each competitive tier typically demanding 15-25 hours of focused gameplay to advance.

This ranked system overhaul addresses fundamental issues that previously limited long-term competitive engagement. The enhanced progression mechanics should provide sustained motivation for players at all skill levels, from newcomers to professional competitors. For detailed weapon strategies and unlock paths, our Weapons Unlock guide offers valuable insights for optimizing your loadout selections.

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