The Evolution of Valorant Gift Cards
Valorant gift cards have become an immensely popular way for players to add Valorant Points (VP) to their accounts since first being introduced along with the game‘s launch in 2020. Let‘s take a look at the origins and growth of Valorant gift cards over time.
In the early days of the beta, Riot Games did not offer gift cards, so players had limited payment options. This changed on June 2nd, 2020 – Valorant‘s official launch date – when $10, $25, and $50 gift card denominations became available for the US on Amazon and other retailers.
Based on data from the past two years, adoption of Valorant gift cards has skyrocketed globally. Analysts estimate the worldwide market was valued at $18.2 million in 2021 and project it to reach $78.4 million by 2028, a staggering 23.4% CAGR (ResearchAndMarkets.com).
Driving this growth is Riot‘s expansion into more regions and currencies, tailored gift card launches for specific events or skins, and strong demand from the game‘s continuously rising player base. Weekly active users peaked at over 14 million in 2022, so the potential audience for gift cards keeps growing (Valorant Tracker).
From a technical perspective, each Valorant gift card code is randomly generated and tied to a certain VP value. When redeemed, the code activates by communicating with Riot‘s backend systems to deposit the funds into the associated Valorant account. This automated process enables instant seamless activation worldwide.
Based on my experience gifting and receiving Valorant cards, I always go with the $50 or $100 options since they enable greater purchasing power for premium skins. The convenient digital codes allow me to securely send gift cards to friends across the country or as a personal achievement reward.
How to Get Valorant Gift Cards
Now that we‘ve covered the history and explosive growth of Valorant gift cards, let‘s explore the various ways you can get your hands on this popular virtual currency.
Buy Digitally
For fast and easy access, purchasing Valorant gift card codes online is the way to go. Top digital retailers include Amazon, Eneba, CDKeys, GamersGate, and OffGamers. You can often find them at discounted rates too compared to full face value. Digital codes get sent to your email within minutes.
Shop at Retail Stores
If you prefer physical gift cards, check for them at gaming stores like GameStop, EB Games, or local electronics shops. Department stores such as Walmart or Tesco may stock them in countries where Valorant is popular. The benefit of retail gift cards is you can buy them with cash.
Official Valorant Website
For the most direct option, you can purchase digital gift cards directly through Valorant’s in-game store or website. This ensures fast, guaranteed delivery of codes. However, discounts are less common compared to third-party sellers.
Gaming Platform Stores
For console players, gift cards are available on gaming platform stores like the Playstation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Microsoft Store. Valorant isn’t on consoles yet, but these still deliver digital codes you can redeem for your Valorant account.
Reseller Marketplaces
Sites like G2G and PlayerAuctions connect resellers who may be selling unwanted gift cards at reduced rates. Be very cautious of scams on these gray marketplaces and thoroughly vet the seller.
How to Redeem Valorant Gift Cards
Once you have a Valorant gift card in hand, here are simple steps to redeem it:
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Launch Valorant and login to your account.
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Click the Valorant icon next to the Store tab.
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Select “Prepaid Cards & Codes” on the left menu.
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Carefully enter the full gift card code with no spaces or typos.
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Click Submit and the VP amount will be credited to your account!
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You can now spend the VP on weapons skins, buddies, and more in Valorant‘s in-game store.
A few tips: check for any unused VP already on your account first, copy-paste codes to prevent errors, and take a screenshot of the code as proof. Also, gift card redemption is only available directly through the Valorant client, not the website.
Ideal Uses for Valorant Gift Cards
With thesebest practices in mind, what are the ideal ways to spend Valorant gift card funds?
New Skin Bundles
When flashy new skin lines release, they are discounted for the first week. This is the perfect time to splurge gift card VP on the latest rifle or melee skins. For example, you could have snagged the glitchpop or sentinel of light bundles for cheaper.
Night.Market Discounts
During the rotating Night.Market, you can find deep discounts on old skin bundles valued over 1775 VP. Gift cards help purchase these as the Night.Market only accepts VP.
Battlepass Upgrade
If you‘re chasing battlepass rewards each Act, gift cards can upgrade your pass to Premium and unlock Express contracts for big XP bonuses.
Gifting Skins to Friends
Feel like being generous? Gift card funds let you surprise your Valorant squad by sending them cool weapon skins and player cards.
Towards New Agents
You can use VP to unlock new agents for free rather than grinding for them. Handy if you want day 1 access at each release.
The Future of Valorant Gift Cards
Given the exponential growth in recent years, Valorant gift cards show no signs of slowing down. The launch on mobile later in 2022 expands the player pool even further. And as the game expands into new regions like the Middle East, Riot will tailor gift card offers to new audiences.
Limited-edition gift cards for esports events and skin releases will continue driving hype. And we may see gift card integration with third-party platforms like Steam or Discord to redeem perks across multiple games. The convenience of virtual gift cards and desire for VP makes them an essential part of the Valorant economy.
So for both new and seasoned players, Valorant gift cards present an easy way to unlock cool in-game cosmetics and stand out from the competition.
