How does Valorant’s economy compare to CSGO? Full analysis

Riot Games finally gave fans a glimpse into their upcoming FPS Valorant on March 2 – but just how does the economy system compare to CS:GO?

Riot Games’ venture into the first-person shooter has got plenty of fans hyped. Since dropping an early reveal trailer for Valorant back in October, many have dubbed the title to be a hybrid between Overwatch and Counter-Strike.

And while there are some striking similarities, Valorant shares a feature with Valve’s hit FPS that will be at the very roots of gameplay — economy.

Based on footage analysis from Riot’s early reveal trailer, we already know that Valorant will utilize the same round-based economy system that has been a staple to Counter-Strike gameplay. So let’s weigh-up the similarities and differences.

First and foremost, players will be able to purchase one sidearm, one primary, one shield and up to four abilities per round. There are different weapons to suit each style of play, meaning that you can rock a rifle for those long-range engagements, or get up close and personal with an SMG.

• Read more: Is Valorant coming to PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch?

Since there is a plethora of weapons to choose from, we have gone into detail on them separately. What’s interesting however, is that players will be able to keep a tally of their teammates’ economy status on the left-hand side of the buy menu.

Moreover, teammates will be able to request a firearm or shield, should they be running low on resources. As seen in the below screenshot, Agent Sage is requesting a Phantom from their teammate, which prompts an option to ‘Buy It’ for 2,900.

Valorant also boasts Agent abilities, which also need to be purchased on a round-by-round basis as opposed to being earned via playtime or directly through kill/objective rewards.

• Read more: Every Valorant character, ability and ultimate explained

Essentially, this adds another facet to the economy system, which players will have to factor when making strategic decisions on how to play a round.

According to Valorant’s official website: “Valorant is a game for bold strategists who dare to make the unexpected play, because if it wins, it works.”

In terms of economic management, the system will remain much the same as CS:GO in that players will be able to choose to save if the team’s economy is on the light side and vice versa. However, there is an option to vote to save/buy — a feature which will most definitely help with getting the whole squad on the same page, albeit marginally.

Of course, all eyes are looking forward to Summer 2020, where players will be able to get hands-on with Riot’s epic new FPS. Stay tuned with our Valorant coverage, as we uncover more information on the economy system and more!