The wait is over for console players down under. VALORANT arrives on PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S in Australia and New Zealand on September 23, and the Sydney server opens for console play from 10AM AEST that morning. Riot says it’s grateful for the growing interest in VALORANT on console over the past couple of years and is looking forward to the community growing further.
If you missed the original heads-up, we covered the console launch announcement when the date was first confirmed.
When exactly can you jump in?
The server flips on at 10AM AEST, which lands differently depending on where you are:
- New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania: 10:00AM AEST
- South Australia, Northern Territory: 9:30AM ACST
- Western Australia: 8:00AM AWST
- New Zealand Mainland: 12:00PM NZST
- Chatham Islands, New Zealand: 12:45PM CHAST
Why the server was locked before launch
As part of the release process, Riot spent the week before launch finalising testing to make sure things go smoothly. That meant the local console server was temporarily locked from Thursday 17th September, 12AM AEST, until the official launch on September 23 at 10AM AEST. During that testing phase the game could still show up on local console platform stores, but the server stayed offline until launch. PC players were not impacted at any point.
Cross-play: console with console, not with PC
XBOX and PlayStation players can play together, but console players can’t join games with PC players. Riot points to competitive integrity as the reason – it sees separate pools as the best way to keep the experience fair and consistent on both platforms. If you’re still learning the roster before you queue up, our overview of Agents and roles is a good starting point, and we’ve also broken down the maps you’ll be playing on.
Your account and progress carry over
Nothing resets. You use the same account across console and PC, and any progress you make on either platform stays with that account. That includes your Battlepass progress, recruited Agents, purchased skins and anything else you’ve already earned or bought – it all carries over between console and PC.
You also don’t need a subscription to play. PlayStation®Plus and XBOX Game Pass give subscribers their usual benefits, but neither is required to play VALORANT.
Where to go next
Planning your first competitive climb on a controller? We’ve written up the full ranked ladder, and if you’re curious about the store side of things, there’s a separate piece on VP and skin prices.
Riot closed out the announcement by thanking the Australian and New Zealand community for their support so far and said it can’t wait to see players back online to celebrate the official launch on September 23.
FAQ
On September 23. The Sydney server opens for console players at 10AM AEST, which is 9:30AM ACST in South Australia and the Northern Territory, 8:00AM AWST in Western Australia, 12:00PM NZST on the New Zealand mainland and 12:45PM CHAST in the Chatham Islands.
PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S.
No. XBOX and PlayStation players can play together, but console and PC players can’t share games. Riot says this keeps the experience fair and consistent on both sides for competitive integrity reasons.
No. You use the same account on console and PC, so your Battlepass progress, recruited Agents, purchased skins and everything else you’ve earned or bought carries over between platforms.
No, a subscription isn’t required to play VALORANT. Both services still offer their own benefits to subscribers, but you can play without them.