Riot Games is rolling out a new VALORANT game server in Manila, marking the first time the tactical shooter will have a dedicated server in the Philippines. The server is set to go live on August 20 at 5:00 AM (PHT) alongside Patch 11.04.
Valorant’s first dedicated server in the Philippines
According to Riot, the Manila server is aimed at giving Filipino players better connectivity and smoother gameplay. Players in the country often experience high ping and unstable connections when linking to overseas servers, especially the one in Hong Kong. With the new local server, those issues are expected to improve for many users.
“The launch of VALORANT’s first-ever gameserver in the Philippines reinforces Riot Games’ commitment to improving the local player experience while celebrating the Filipino players and communities that have fueled the game’s growth,”
said Jason Roberto, Brand Manager for VALORANT at Riot Games Philippines.
The new option will not replace the Hong Kong server, which has served as the main hub for Filipino VALORANT players since the game’s release in 2020. Players will be free to choose between the two servers, and game quality on the Hong Kong server is expected to remain steady even if some migrate to Manila. Competitive modes and tournaments, including Premier and the pathway to the Challengers Southeast Asia league, will not be affected by the change.
In terms of operation, the Manila server will work just like the existing ones in Hong Kong and Singapore. It will appear in the Southeast Asia server list as “MNL” for eligible players.
The launch comes shortly after VALORANT’s fifth anniversary celebrations, which included several community-led projects in the Philippines. These featured a tribute video, a “Humans of VALORANT” mini-documentary series, and a large mural in Taguig City that showcased moments from the local esports scene.
“Our priority has always been to enrich the game experience for local players and ensure we’re providing the right level of support to our base. We’re excited for them to try out the Manila gameserver and experience smoother connectivity and more hyperlocal matches that will bring fresh excitement to their games.”
said Jason Roberto, Brand Manager for VALORANT at Riot Games Philippines.
To mark the new server’s arrival, Riot Games Philippines will be organizing a series of community tournaments across the country. More details will be shared through VALORANT PH’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.
