Ben Affleck, an actor whose Hollywood career ranges from Good Will Hunting to being the face of Batman in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, made the headlines in arguably the best and most surprising way possible after he had showed up at the Valorant Champions 2023 event earlier this week to reveal something new.
The actor didn’t just swing by; he demonstrated deep insights into the game, effectively throwing his Hollywood weight behind Valorant, a free-to-play tactical shooter by Riot Games that has become a cornerstone in modern esports.
Affleck, it turns out, isn’t a mere casual observer who just happened to pass by but an avid player, describing himself as a “promiscuous flex player,” maining characters like KAY/O and Raze.
Batman maining KAY/O in Valorant was not as surprising as knowing that Ben Affleck plays Valorant ngl pic.twitter.com/HeRVm3nKI4
— Zentreon 🐉 (@Zentreonthehero) August 27, 2023
In a series of interviews and conversations at the event, Affleck was well-versed in the game’s meta, casually discussing the significant alterations that came with the game’s latest patch, 7.04. For those uninitiated, Valorant is an arena where milliseconds and precise skill shots count. Players pick from an array of agents – each with unique abilities – making patch updates scrutinized events that can tip the competitive balance.
Patch 7.04 did exactly that. Riot Games introduced a new map, Sunset, presumably themed after the studio’s hometown of L.A. They also adjusted an existing map, Breeze, to dramatically change the sightlines. While these were significant updates, the real controversy came from the changes to the characters, or agents as they are called in the game.
Jett, a character regularly ranked in the S-tier – a term used to describe an agent that’s incredibly popular and powerful – across various lists, bore the brunt of these adjustments. She’s known for her agility and speed, but the update made everything in her ability kit slower. Tailwind, a movement ability, has a longer startup time and doesn’t travel as far as it used to. Updraft, which sends Jett airborne, can now be used only once, down from twice. Her ultimate, Blade Storm, now costs eight points instead of seven. Riot explained these changes as attempts to fine-tune Jett, making her less able to escape mistakes and forcing more intentional use of her abilities.
Thanks for the reminder 🫠 Love that for me @VALORANT pic.twitter.com/r8k3DWU5Mh
— Shannon Williams (@ArrumieShannon) August 27, 2023
The community’s reaction to these changes have been mixed. While some fans rued the nerfing of Jett, describing it as too severe, others celebrated. Riot’s community manager, Jo-ellen “Riot Joellen” Aragon, mentioned that the changes are aimed to balance Jett with other agents while maintaining her unique characteristics.
But the fact that Batman himself is miffed is a testament to Valorant’s sweeping appeal. When told his son mentioned he could be a Jett main, Affleck interjected with a laugh, “Yeah, but then they nerfed Jett, that’s the problem.” It’s not every day you hear an Oscar winner talking about character nerfs in a video game. Even if Affleck is actually a KAY/O main – as he revealed – his appearance adds a fascinating layer to the cultural tapestry of gaming and esports.
Not just any celebrity showing up at a gaming event can generate this kind of buzz. Elon Musk was also present but he didn’t get a warm welcome, unlike Affleck, who was taking selfies with the voice actors for various Valorant characters, including Shannon Williams, the voice of Jett. It’s one thing to see Affleck take his son to an esports event; it’s quite another to realize that he himself is part of the gaming community.
And yet, this shouldn’t be as surprising as it seems. Valorant is a game that demands a high level of skill and patience. It is literally aiming to take down Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which, by the way, is getting a sequel any day now with CS2.
If Ben Affleck can navigate the complexities of Hollywood, navigating Valorant’s intricate gameplay is just another day’s work for him. So next time you’re playing Valorant and you get bested by someone, it could just be the Dark Knight’s way of showing you the ropes, proving that the caped crusader has truly hung up his cape – for a mouse and keyboard.
Now, excuse us as he weep about the now-gone possibility of a fantasy scenario that features Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Cavill’s Superman geeking out about their favourite video games on the big screen.
