VALORANT Lore Explained – the Fascinating Story Behind the Game

VALORANT might be a competitive shooter when seen at first glance, but Riot Games has done an excellent job in building a deep and layered narrative beneath the surface. There’s an entire sci-fi universe that gives context to your matches, and it all ties back into a mysterious energy source called Radianite.

In this article, we’ll break down the essential parts of the VALORANT lore and how the agents we know and love come to exist.

Everything Begins with the First Light

The First Light is the dawn of VALORANT’s lore and universe – it was a global event that changed the world in an instant. The First Light occurred due to a massive surge of energy that caused a worldwide blackout lasting several hours. When the lights were back on, cities lit up with glowing crystals, strange structures formed, and people began to develop supernatural abilities.

The event introduced Radianite, a powerful new energy source that humans had never encountered before. Radianite could be harnessed for energy, technology, weapons, and even to augment human abilities. Naturally, this led people to scramble to control as much of it as possible.

The Birth of the VALORANT Protocol

With Radianite and the war for it spreading chaos across the globe, governments and private organizations seek to gain control of the situation. This is where the VALORANT Protocol comes in.

Formed by a shadowy individual known only as Brimstone, the Protocol was designed as a black-ops task force to handle Radianite-related threats. Soon after its formation, the Protocol took in agents who are composed of a mix of Radiants (people with innate powers) and non-Radiants, who utilize Radiant-powered technology.

The VALORANT Protocol operates outside of traditional national allegiances, as it’s a global initiative aimed at preventing Radianite incidents before they spiral out of control.

The earliest members of the Protocol included:

• Brimstone – the founder and commanding officer
• Viper – one of the earliest scientific minds to begin studying Radianite
• Omen – the third agent to join
• Sova – a tracker and intel specialist
• Killjoy – a genius researcher

These founding agents formed the backbone of the Protocol, with the mission being to control Radianite threats and protect Earth from global instability. As time went on, more and more agents were recruited, who are the characters we see in VALORANT today.

The Kingdom Corporation

Not long after the First Light, a powerful megacorporation called Kingdom rose to prominence. They were the first to truly capitalize on Radianite, utilizing the new energy to construct massive refineries and mining operations that controlled and distributed it. The corporation was so relevant that you’ll find its logos and facilities scattered across almost every map in the game.

Kingdom positioned itself as a savior, providing clean energy and advanced infrastructure to improve the quality of life and stabilize a chaotic world. However, there’s a much darker truth – they used Radianite for secret experiments and quietly influenced governments using their power.

Many VALORANT agents have personal connections to Kingdom. Some used to work for them (like Killjoy), while others opposed them outright (like Phoenix and Viper). While the lore doesn’t specify the full extent of Kingdom’s involvement, one thing is made clear: they’re not just a regular energy company – they’re a global powerhouse pulling strings behind the scenes.

Radiants and Radianite Technology

Though the First Light phenomenon was global, not everyone was affected by it in the same way. Some individuals suddenly developed powerful abilities – these people are known as Radiants. Characters like Phoenix, Jett, Reyna, and Sage were granted the ability to manipulate elements, space, or even life itself. They received supernatural powers, all thanks to their unique connection with Radianite.

But others didn’t get powers. So, they made their own. Many others started developing Radianite-powered technology and weapons instead. Think of Killjoy’s gadgets, Brimstone’s orbital laser, and Sova’s utility – these tools allow non-Radiants to go toe-to-toe with powered individuals.

Alpha vs. Omega Earth

The VALORANT Protocol expanded in strength and scope, and agents were deployed on missions. However, they started encountering something unexpected. They would run into enemy forces using the same weapons, same abilities, and even the same agents. That’s when they discovered the existence of Omega Earth – a parallel Earth.

In VALORANT’s world, Alpha Earth is our world, where the VALORANT Protocol is based. On the other hand, Omega Earth is a more technologically advanced world, but it faces one key issue: the Earth is environmentally devastated, meaning it has less Radianite than Alpha Earth. Omega Earth also has Kingdom Industries, which is its counterpart to Kingdom Corporation.

Identical agents from Omega Earth work for its own version of the Protocol, and their main goal is to steal Radianite from Alpha Earth and bring it back to their world. Every match you play in VALORANT is essentially a war between these two realities, where one side is trying to protect Radianite, and the other is trying to take it.

Agents from Omega Earth developed a device called the Spike – the device attackers use in-game – to steal Radianite. It’s a tool designed to extract Radianite from Alpha Earth and transport it to Omega Earth. The stakes are much bigger than a simple win or loss, as it has turned into a struggle over the survival of each world.

So, both Earths in VALORANT have identical inhabitants and agents that battle against each other for Radianite. This is why you can have mirror doubles in your VALORANT matches. Defenders are agents from Alpha Earth, while attackers are agents from Omega Earth.

Lore Behind VALORANT Maps

Every VALORANT map tells a story, not just through its layout, but through subtle environmental clues and visual details. Most of the maps we play on are located on Alpha Earth, where Kingdom Corporation has established Radianite operations.

Ascent is a map on Alpha Earth, marking major lore moments. A VALORANT trailer displayed the “Venice Incident,” where Alpha Phoenix and Omega Jett brawled and caused a Radianite explosion that ripped the city into floating ruins.

Fracture offers another glimpse into the conflict between both Earths, as it was the site of a destroyed joint research facility. Bind is Cypher’s hometown, and the teleporters are backed with Radianite energy.

There are also maps set on Omega Earth, where we’ll see a world buckling under climate disaster. Pearl is a submerged city in Portugal, and Lotus is a crumbling temple that has connections to a group known as the Astral Guardians (tied to Astra).

VALORANT Lore – Closing Thoughts

While VALORANT is primarily known for its fast-paced action and competition, the hidden narratives add a surprising amount of depth to the game’s universe. Riot has also gone the extra mile, giving every agent a detailed backstory that makes the lore feel alive.