Riot and Zedd are collaborating on the Spectrum skin series, VALORANT's first audio-focused package.
Riot Games has revealed Spectrum, VALORANT's first audio-focused skin series created in collaboration with world-renowned DJ Zedd.
VALORANT is home to dozens of unique skin designs that are perfect for almost any aesthetic, from minimal designs to futuristic bundles of colors. The new Spectrum skin lineup, however, takes a different approach, focusing first on sound design and finally on skin models.
Chris Stone, VALORANT's senior gun artist, said, “We worked backwards for Spectrum; sound first, visual effects second, and the latest model,” he said. “This required us to rethink a bit of how we typically produce skins, but it was also a fun challenge for the team that allowed us to develop the best possible skin.”
The Spectrum skin series comes in collaboration with Zedd, who is a world-class DJ as well as a VALORANT enthusiast. The costumes were revealed in the Year One Anthem video earlier this summer, and fans have been patiently waiting for the costumes to be revealed. Zedd was more involved than fans expected and helped create the vision and feel of almost every sound in the pack.
Senior sound designer Isaac Kikawa explained that Zedd provides a vision of sound that Kikawa can tune to fit the VALORANT playground. This created something that sounds like Zedd but matches the world of VALORANT.
“When I first got my hands on VALORANT, I pretty much stopped playing all other games. It was the perfect combination of my favorite games,” Zedd said. “I was obsessed with Counter-Strike when I was younger and played a lot of Overwatch in recent years, but I felt like there was no room for 'clutch' moments. When I heard about VALORANT, I thought it might combine my love of talent with the high-result gameplay of a game like Counter-Strike.”
According to VALORANT senior producer Preeti Khanolkar, the Spectrum pack is one of the "most ambitious and complex skin series" the team has ever made. Details in each skin result in multiple “bruh moment” moments, and Zedd has put a significant amount of work into the unique sounds of each weapon.
The new skins are also designed to appeal to gamers, according to VALORANT art leader Sean Marino. Even if players aren't familiar with Zedd or his brand, the sci-fi and sound-heavy skins are a great choice for any gamer looking for a new skin pack.
The Spectrum pack includes skins for Phantom, Classic, Bulldog, Guardian, and Waveform Melee. The base version of each skin includes the special model and ADS reticle that changes colors as you move. The second level adds a custom muzzle flash and firing sound, and the muzzle flash color changes as you move around the map.
The third level adds custom equip and reload audio and visual effects, as well as accent colors that change as you move. This level also offers a special review sound that is different for each weapon and beats to the rhythm of other sounds. The unique review audio is known as Sequence and highlights how much effort went into creating a unique audio experience.
The fourth level adds a kill banner and finish, two of the most exciting additions in the skin series. The finisher creates a Zedd and VALORANT logo on the killed player, covering the area in a colorful experience reminiscent of a nightclub. The ending animation will color based on where it spawned, and if the spike still isn't resolved when it fires, the animation will be slightly different.
The pack also includes a Spectrum charm, Zedd charm, Spectrum player card, and Spectrum spray. Weapons and melee skins are available in black, red and purple/pink variants. The melee skin also has a special review sound that plays a unique melody.
The Spectrum package opens the door for other artists to collaborate with the VALROANT team to create a unique experience. Zedd was heavily involved in nearly every step, and fans can see the hard work and dedication in the finished product. Maybe another popular artist can follow the same path in the future.
The Spectrum package costs 10.700 VP and is in the Exclusive Edition price tier. Make sure you buy the package before it's too late.