Is Valorant coming to Nintendo Switch? This question has been circulating among gaming communities since Riot Games’ tactical shooter exploded in popularity. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Valorant and its potential Nintendo Switch release.
Current Availability Status
As of March 29, 2025, Valorant is not available on Nintendo Switch. Despite the game’s successful launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in June 2024, Riot Games hasn’t officially announced any plans to bring their tactical shooter to Nintendo’s portable console. This continues to disappoint many Nintendo fans who have been waiting patiently for a Switch version.
The tactical shooter remains playable on PC and major console platforms, but Switch owners are still left without access to Riot’s competitive 5v5 character-based FPS. While console players on PlayStation and Xbox can now enjoy the Valorant experience, Nintendo users must continue to wait for any official news.
Valorant Nintendo Switch Release Date
There is currently no official release date for Valorant on Nintendo Switch. However, recent developments have given fans a glimmer of hope. According to Reddit discussions from March 2024, data miners discovered code references to “Nintendo” and “Switch” in Valorant’s files, suggesting a potential Switch version might be in the early development stages.
Despite these promising leaks, Riot Games has maintained silence regarding any Nintendo Switch plans. The company’s focus appears to remain on supporting the existing platforms and the upcoming mobile version rather than announcing new console ports.
Will Valorant Come to Switch 2?
The rumored next-generation Nintendo console (unofficially called Switch 2) might be a more realistic target for Valorant than the current Switch hardware. With significantly improved processing power and graphics capabilities, the Switch 2 would be better equipped to handle Valorant’s demanding gameplay requirements.
Gaming enthusiasts across YouTube and other platforms have been vocal about wanting Valorant on Switch 2, emphasizing that the hybrid nature of Nintendo’s console would offer a unique portable experience beyond what the upcoming mobile version will provide. The enhanced hardware specifications would potentially allow for the 60+ FPS performance that competitive Valorant gameplay demands.
Valorant Alternatives for Nintendo Switch
While waiting for a potential Valorant release, Nintendo Switch players can enjoy several excellent shooter alternatives:
- Overwatch 2: Blizzard’s team-based hero shooter offers ability-focused combat with diverse characters.
- Paladins: This free-to-play hero shooter shares some DNA with Valorant’s agent-based gameplay.
- Fortnite: Epic’s battle royale juggernaut delivers polished shooting mechanics and regular content updates.
- Apex Legends: Respawn’s fast-paced battle royale features character abilities somewhat similar to Valorant’s agent system.
- Splatoon 3: Nintendo’s own competitive shooter offers unique ink-based mechanics and a thriving community.
These games have been specifically optimized for Switch hardware, ensuring they run smoothly while maintaining their core gameplay elements.
Valorant Cross-Platform Play
Valorant currently offers cross-platform play between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players, but PC gamers remain in separate matchmaking pools. According to the latest Season 2025 Act 2 update launched on March 6, 2025, Riot maintains this separation to preserve competitive integrity.
If a Switch version eventually materializes, it would likely join the existing console ecosystem rather than the PC matchmaking pool. This would allow Switch players to compete against PlayStation and Xbox users, creating a unified console community while maintaining the separation from PC players.
What’s New in Valorant Season 2025 Act 2
While Switch owners continue to wait, Valorant’s latest update has introduced exciting content for existing players. Season 2025 Act 2, which launched on March 6, 2025, brought:
- Waylay: A new Duelist agent from Thailand who manipulates light and prisms
- Fresh Battlepass: Featuring the Byteshift, Doom Wing, and Refractrix collections
- Map pool rotation: Swapping Bind and Abyss for Ascent and Icebox
This season will run until April 30, 2025, giving players plenty of content to enjoy across supported platforms.
Conclusion
Valorant remains unavailable on Nintendo Switch as of March 29, 2025. While promising leaks suggest potential development, no official release date has been announced. The more powerful Switch 2 might be a more likely target for a future port.
In the meantime, Switch owners can enjoy alternatives like Overwatch 2, Paladins, and Splatoon 3. Cross-platform play continues to be limited to console platforms, with PC players in separate matchmaking pools for competitive integrity.
As Riot Games continues to expand Valorant’s availability across platforms, Nintendo fans should monitor official announcements for any news about a potential Switch release in the future.
Andrew "SuZki" Scola is a dedicated Valorant player who has been in the game since the Valorant beta release. He has a peak rank of Immortal 3 and is also a semi-pro esports player. He's also been associated with a few gaming clans and communities, including Highlander Gaming and SoCal Valorant Community. In his free time, he creates content for the Valorant community and writes guides about Valorant based on his experience.
