The game’s free-to-play model, partnered with the nostalgia for "Counter-Strike Version 1.4," has played a crucial role in helping "Valorant" find popularity in the Philippines, according to Spin.ph. “The main way that we thought people would get to know about the game was through PC cafes, but most of those were closed and shuttered.”
“ I was actually kind of surprised at first with the popularity of the game primarily because - in the Philippines and Indonesia in particular - COVID happened last year,” Hulog told Yahoo! Esports Southeast Asia. “ Valorant” and the Philippines: Riot Games' general manager for Southeast Asia and Taiwan, Justin Hulog, said he did not expect "Valorant" to become such a hit in the Philippines, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic severely affecting many public establishments during its release in June 2020. “As to when, I can’t say on that one but it’s definitely on top of mind for us.” “ It’s absolutely awesome and we’d love to actually make an agent from Southeast Asia at some point,” Goscicki shared. If the speculations prove to be accurate, this character will become the first Filipino and Southeast Asian agent in “Valorant,” something that the game’s character producer John Goscicki teased in July, Mindanao Times reported. Other voice lines also suggest the next agent is one of the Radiants, a group of individuals who developed supernatural abilities following the First Light event that affected Earth. Manila is quite warm this time of year,” Chamber said. “ Viper, your suit is a little stifling, no? When you go meet the new agent, maybe pack something light.