You can now get beta access from any Valorant stream

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Closed beta server load has been boosted to meet demand, too.

(Image credit: Riot Games)

We're loving Valorant at PC Gamer so far, but it's not without its issues. In their 11 thoughts on Valorant, Evan and Tyler highlight how much they appreciate the tactical shooter's depth, despite a lack of identity in its guns and characters. That excitement is shared by many of you, too: players are scrabbling to get access to the closed Valorant beta by watching specific Twitch streams, and the luck isn't with everyone.

Now, following this post on the game's official site, you can pick up a key from watching any Valorant Twitch stream, as long as the streamer is actively playing the game. Drops will continue to arrive 24/7 to players in Europe, Canada, United States, Turkey, Russia and CIS countries, but it's worth noting that the number of beta keys available won't increase—you'll just be able to get one from a greater number of sources.

It's also no longer just a question of dumb luck. Riot claims it went "through a few thousand of the most engaged Valorant stream viewers and manually gave access as a thank you". Riot didn't get specific in terms of how much these players needed to have interacted with Valorant streams, but if you're persistent enough, it looks like you'll be able to try the game eventually. "We know there’s a lot of demand, and it can be frustrating not to get access after a few days of watching" Riot say.

If you're one of the lucky sharpshooters with access to the game, here's Tyler's guide on the best Valorant guns based on damage values and recoil patterns, plus our introduction to the game's roster of Valorant characters.

Harry Shepherd
Harry Shepherd

UK — After collecting and devouring piles of print gaming guides in his younger days, Harry has been creating 21st century versions for the past five years as Guides Writer at PCGamesN and Guides Editor at PC Gamer. He has also produced features, reviews, and even more guides for Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and Top Ten Reviews. He's been playing and picking apart PC games for over two decades, from hazy memories of what was probably a Snake knock-off on his first rig when he was seven to producing informative guides on football simulators, open-world role-playing games, and shooters today. So many by now he steadfastly refuses to convey information unless it’s in clickable online form.