VALORANT’s Closed Beta: Skins and Microtransactions
The closed beta of VALORANT is in full swing, and the official release of the game is set for this summer. Players can already purchase a variety of skins in the game, but how do you acquire them and will they carry over when the game is officially launched?
How to Obtain Skins in VALORANT
Riot has decided to focus solely on weapon skins during the closed beta of VALORANT and has no plans to introduce character skins at this time. Currently, every weapon in the game, from knives to sniper rifles, has a skin available. These skins are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay in any way.
You can purchase skins using VALORANT Points, which can be bought with real money from the game’s shop.
Can Characters Be Purchased from the Shop?
Characters, also known as agents, can indeed be purchased from the shop for 1,000 VALORANT Points (approximately $10). Alternatively, you can earn characters by completing contracts.
Each contract requires a specific amount of XP. The first contract unlocks at level five, followed by the second contract shortly after. However, the third contract requires significantly more XP, including 100 wins, making it a time-consuming task. If you prefer to skip this process, buying characters from the shop is your only option.
Will Skins and Characters Carry Over at Launch?
Unfortunately, neither skins nor characters will carry over when VALORANT is officially released. However, players will be refunded any VALORANT Points spent during the beta, along with a 20% bonus. This makes now the best time to stock up on skins if you plan to do so in the future.
Upgrading Weapon Skins
If you want to enhance your weapons, you can use Radianite, an in-game currency available in the shop. Similar to regular skins, Radianite Points require VALORANT Points for purchase. However, they can be quite costly. Twenty Radianite Points cost 1,600 VP, and 80 points cost 4,800 VP. Each upgrade requires 10 Radianite Points.
The Cost of VALORANT Points
VALORANT Points can be purchased in six different options. You can buy 475 VP for $4.99, 1,000 VP for $9.99, 2,050 VP for $19.99, 3,650 VP for $34.99, 5,350 VP for $49.99, or 11,000 VP for $99.99. The conversion rate may vary depending on your regional currency, and some currencies may offer slightly cheaper prices.