Shroud Doesn't Think VALORANT Will Be As Big As CS:GO
While Riot Games' VALORANT has been the talk of the town since its release earlier this year, that hasn't stopped the first-person shooter being hit with glitches, gripes, and general grumbles that it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Now, one of the biggest names in the gaming world has passed judgement on the title as Michael "Shroud" Grzesiek has said he doesn't think VALORANT will be as big as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
The world of first-person shooters and battle royale games has had a boom in recent years, but head back a little further into the esports scene, CS:GO was arguably the game that kick-started our current obsession. Riot has been accused of cashing in on the hype by creating its own hero shooter that takes a bit of CS:GO, a splash of Overwatch, and a healthy dose of Apex Legends. Unfortunately, Shroud doesn't think it's enough to see the game go the distance.
Given Shroud's impressive history with CS:GO helping him become the superstar content creator he is today, it's no surprise he compares every up-and-coming whippersnapper to Valve's shooter. Discussing where VALORANT could go, Shroud admitted it has the potential to be as big as CS:GO - he just doesn't think it will ever get there.
Explaining how VALORANT differs, Shroud said, "The beauty of CS was that it’s very easy to watch, you know you’re grandma could watch it and be like, ‘oh this person shoots this person'. But VALORANT, it’s still the same thing, this person shoots this person, but what’s confusing about it is everyone looks the same, and everyone’s casting abilities". Even if Shroud isn't sure about the Agents' abilities, it's arguably this that makes VALORANT what it is and sets it apart from something like CS:GO or Call of Duty.
Don't get Grzesiek wrong though, he isn't slamming VALORANT by any means. He's right that the game has a growing fanbase of spectators that also play the game, meaning they're probably better equipped to understand what's going on. Returning to the Grandma analogy, Shroud compared VALORANT to League of Legends and added, "League of Legends has so many players, it doesn’t matter if your grandma can’t watch it, the game is huge. So that’s all Valorant has to as well, just make their game f*****g awesome and the views will come".
League of Legends is another huge Riot IP and has been a runaway success since it first hit the scene in 2009. These days, the likes of LoL Worlds is one of the biggest esports events of the year. VALORANT has already started making the most of its esports potential with First Strike and 2021's VALORANT Champions Tour. First Strike just crowned 100 Thieves as its first winners, showing that the best of the best are very much invested in the title.
Only time will tell whether the game can go all the way or whether it'll slowly slip into the realms of being a "dead game". Either way, VALORANT fans can continue to enjoy the shooter and all its colourful chaos.
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