If you’ve spent any time browsing the Epic Games Store for free multiplayer titles, you’ve probably wondered is Valorant on Epic Games at some point. Riot’s tactical 5v5 shooter has dominated the competitive FPS space for years, and lots of players prefer to keep all their PC games in one launcher instead of juggling half a dozen separate apps for different publishers. I’ve tested every way to install Valorant over the past three years, from closed beta launches to the latest client updates, so I can walk you through exactly what’s available, what isn’t, and what you can expect if you’re holding out for an Epic release. Whether you’re a new player looking to try the game for the first time or a long-time fan who wants to simplify your launcher setup, this guide breaks down all the facts without the vague rumors you’ll find on random forum threads.
Is Valorant on Epic Games Right Now?
The short, straightforward answer is no, Valorant is not available to download or play through the Epic Games Store as of the latest publisher updates. Riot Games has kept all of its core PC titles, including League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant, exclusive to its own Riot Client launcher for the entirety of their release cycles. That doesn’t mean there’s no overlap between Riot and Epic services, though. For example, you can link your Riot account to your Epic Games account to unlock cross-game cosmetics for titles like Fortnite, but that’s where the integration ends right now. I’ve seen dozens of fake listings and clickbait videos claiming Valorant is coming to Epic every few months, but none of these have ever been confirmed by official Riot or Epic representatives. You should never download any “Valorant Epic installer” from third-party sites, as these are almost always malware or phishing scams designed to steal your account credentials. Riot will make a public announcement months in advance if they ever plan to release the game on third-party launchers, so you don’t have to hunt for leaks to stay in the loop.
Why Isn’t Valorant on the Epic Games Store?
Riot hasn’t released an official statement explaining exactly why they’ve kept Valorant off third-party launchers, but there are a few clear, logical reasons that most industry analysts and long-time players agree on. First, running its own launcher lets Riot have full control over the game’s update schedule, anti-cheat implementation, and account security. Valorant’s Vanguard anti-cheat system is one of the most strict and effective in the FPS space, and it’s deeply integrated with the Riot Client. Hosting the game on a third-party launcher would require Riot to rework large parts of that system to comply with Epic’s platform rules, which could create gaps in anti-cheat protection that lead to more cheaters in matches. Second, Riot keeps 100% of all in-game purchase revenue when players buy skins, battle passes, or other content through the Riot Client. If they released Valorant on Epic, they would have to give Epic a 12% cut of all revenue generated through the launcher, which adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars a year for a game as popular as Valorant. Finally, the Riot Client acts as a central hub for all of Riot’s games, so keeping Valorant exclusive to that platform encourages players to try other Riot titles instead of sticking only to games they find on Epic. That doesn’t mean a future Epic release is impossible, of course, but all signs point to Riot sticking with its own launcher for the foreseeable future.
Alternatives If You Want to Play Valorant Without Multiple Launchers
If you’ve been holding out hoping for an official announcement that answers is Valorant on Epic Games with a yes, these workarounds can hold you over in the meantime. If you hate juggling multiple launchers on your PC, you don’t have to give up on playing Valorant entirely. There are a few simple workarounds you can use to keep your gaming setup as streamlined as possible, no Epic Store release required. First, you can add Valorant as a non-Epic game to your Epic Games Store library, so you can launch it directly from the Epic launcher without opening the Riot Client separately first. The process takes less than two minutes, and you’ll still get all the same game features, updates, and anti-cheat protection as you would if you launched it directly from Riot’s app. Other options to simplify your setup include:
- Add Valorant to your Steam library as a non-Steam game to access Steam overlay features and track your playtime alongside other Steam titles
- Pin the Riot Client to your taskbar or desktop for one-click access, and disable auto-launch for the client so it doesn’t run in the background when you’re not playing
- Uninstall any launchers you don’t use regularly to cut down on clutter, and only keep the ones for games you play at least once a month
I’ve used all of these tricks for my own gaming PC, and adding Valorant to my Steam library cut down the time I spent switching between launchers by half. You don’t need to re-download the game or create a new account to add it to third-party launchers, so you can keep all your existing progress and skins. Adding Valorant to a third-party launcher library doesn’t violate Riot’s terms of service, so you don’t have to worry about getting your account banned for using these workarounds. Just make sure you’re only launching the official Riot Client version of the game, not a modified copy from an untrusted source.
What to Expect If Valorant Ever Comes to Epic Games
While there’s no official release date for Valorant on Epic, we can make some pretty accurate guesses about what a potential launch would look like based on other third-party games that have released on the platform in recent years. First, it’s almost guaranteed that Riot would run a launch promotion to convince players to try the Epic version, like a free exclusive skin, battle pass discount, or free in-game currency for anyone who links their Riot account to Epic and downloads the game through the store within the first month of release. Second, cross-progression would almost certainly be supported, so you won’t lose any of your existing skins, rank, or account progress if you switch from the Riot Client to the Epic version. You’ll still be able to play with friends who use the Riot Client, too, since there’s no platform lock for Valorant matches. One thing to watch out for, though, is that any purchases you make through the Epic version of the game will likely only work on the Epic version, or will take a few days to sync to your Riot Client account. You should never buy in-game content for a third-party launcher version of Valorant before confirming cross-purchase support is active, to avoid losing access to the items you paid for. I’d also recommend waiting at least a week after any potential Epic launch to download the game, to let Riot fix any launch bugs or integration issues that pop up with the new platform version.
At the end of the day, it’s easy to see why so many players ask is Valorant on Epic Games, especially if you already use the Epic Store for most of your PC game library. While there’s no official release on the platform right now, the workarounds we covered make it easy to add Valorant to your existing launcher setup without waiting for Riot to partner with Epic. If you’re a new player ready to jump into your first match, you can head directly to the official Riot Games website to download the Riot Client and install Valorant for free in less than 10 minutes, no Epic account required. Keep an eye on official Riot social media channels for any future announcements about third-party launcher releases, and don’t fall for any fake download links or unconfirmed rumors in the meantime.
