‘Harbor is warm, positive and confident’: Riot Games’ exec on Valorant’s first Indian agent

Riot Games is set to introduce a new agent of Indian descent in its game Valorant, with developers emphasizing the character’s creation through a deep dive into various aspects of Indian culture, ranging from Bollywood to literature. John Goscicki, Senior Game Producer at Riot Games, described Valorant as “unapologetically global,” and the inclusion of an Indian agent aims to provide a diverse and global experience for its extensive player base.

Goscicki, who is also a senior character producer for Valorant, mentioned that the character, named Harbor, was crafted to exude warmth, positivity, confidence, and a readiness for combat. The development team extensively researched Indian culture, including watching Bollywood movies, exploring different film industries within India, reading books, and consulting with writers to draw inspiration for the new agent.

The goal was to ensure that Harbor is represented authentically in the game, reflecting the richness of Indian experiences, culture, food, and entertainment. Goscicki emphasized the importance of portraying characters in a way that resonates with players and aligns with their ideal representation.

Alasdair Gray, Head of Marketing – APAC at Riot Games, highlighted the team’s commitment to remaining sensitive to players’ perspectives while portraying characters in a positive light.

Valorant, a free-to-play team-based tactical shooter with a five-on-five setup, features characters known as “Agents” with unique abilities. The game, launched in 2020, is Riot Games’ first title outside the League of Legends universe and is owned by the Chinese gaming giant Tencent.

The character development for Harbor began 13 months ago, involving extensive research into details such as Harbor’s origin in India, age, and language. Goscicki described Harbor as an aspirational agent, representing the essence of being human in day-to-day life. While details about Harbor’s personality and storyline remain undisclosed, Goscicki mentioned that the new agent will operate outside the in-world controller space, presenting a more approachable persona.

Harbor’s design aims to provide players with new tools for addressing challenges in the game, particularly in controlling long angles on maps like Breeze and Icebox. Goscicki expressed anticipation to see how players will utilize Harbor’s abilities to dominate significant areas in the game.