In the latest State of the Agents blog, VALORANT developers have teased players with new clues about Agent 18 and what their kit might bring to the table. The post not only contained more exciting descriptions about the new character but also unveiled an intriguing new image of the agent. Fans are eagerly awaiting the new agent to arrive in the game, set for release in early 2022 when the next VALORANT episode launches.
VALORANT Agent 18 is all about speed
In the past weeks, Riot has been dropping more and more hints about the new agent, apparently codenamed “Sprinter” according to dataminer leaks. As for official releases, the recent VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), which concluded in Berlin earlier this month, had premiered a short clip for Agent 18. In that teaser video, the female voiceover delivered quotes hinting at a speedy new character. “I hope they like getting hit by lightning. Get ready, I go fast.”
Now, the new hints from VALORANT developers continue to point to a highly agile new agent. For one, the unveiled image captures the heels of what looks like an athlete, with running shoes sparking with an electric bolt. The electric element, as one would think, seems to be a reference to lightning, again indicating quickness.
Moreover, Character Producer John Goscicki described Agent 18 as one who can “outpace the rest of the roster,” continuing on the theme of speed and mobility. Aside from that, the character will be “shocking the competition and sliding straight into the fight.” These descriptions might be hints for the agent's abilities, perhaps something electricity-based as a shock factor. (Plus, it would fit right in with the lightning bolt in the image). Another move could be something like a dash or a form of engage, making the new agent possibly a good fit as an initiator.
New agent nationality is Filipino
Last but not the least, the preview also interestingly included words in the Filipino language. The segment began with “Mga kaibigan ko,” which translates to “Dear my friends,” and ends with “Maraming salamat!” meaning “Thank you!” Players have also noticed that Chamber's voice lines allude to an agent based in Manila. Finally, as a bit of an easter egg, the image file is named “bilis” which means fast. Taken together, all these clues suggest that the new speedy agent will be hailing from the Philippines.
With all these hints and teasers dropping left and right, fans are definitely excited to see the new agent arrive. However, Riot has yet to confirm the release date for Agent 18. Speculation could place it at the start of Episode 4, set to go live on January 12, 2022. In addition, Goscicki specifically phrased it as “Kicking off next year…” which suggests that we might get Agent 18 very soon.
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