Riot Games will launch a dedicated VALORANT server in Manila on August 19th, lowering ping for Filipino players, boosting performance, and supporting the nation’s growing esports scene.
Riot Games has officially announced the launch of a dedicated VALORANT server in Manila, set to go live with the release of patch 11.04 on August 19th. This marks a significant milestone for the Philippines’ rapidly growing VALORANT community, which until now has primarily relied on the Hong Kong server for gameplay.
The Manila server will be the sixth server in the Asia Pacific region, matching the number available in North America. While the ping difference for casual players on the Hong Kong server was relatively small, professional and competitive players often faced disadvantages in high-stakes matches. The new Manila server aims to lower ping, enhance game performance, and reduce latency-related instability, giving Filipino players a level playing field in both casual and competitive environments.
Riot Games expressed gratitude to the Filipino community for its dedication over the past five years, noting that Southeast Asia—and the Philippines in particular—has shown tremendous growth in VALORANT’s player base. “We’re grateful for this incredible passion and want to ensure we are properly supporting our player base,” Riot said in its announcement.
The Asia Pacific VALORANT scene has exploded in popularity, bolstered by the introduction of the VCT partnership league, which opened doors for new talent across the region. Filipino players have already begun making their mark on the international stage. A recent highlight was Patrick ‘PatMen’ Mendoza of Paper Rex becoming the first Filipino to lift a VALORANT Masters trophy. Riot believes that improved server infrastructure will allow emerging talent from the Philippines to thrive without the technical hurdles that previously limited their potential.
Importantly, the existing Hong Kong server will remain available. Players who prefer that server can continue to use it, as the Manila option is meant to be an alternative choice rather than a replacement. Riot has reassured the community that matchmaking quality will remain unaffected across both servers.
For competitive teams, the Manila server will be integrated into the VCL (VALORANT Challengers League) Southeast Asia circuit. Premier teams in the Philippines can make the switch without losing eligibility for VCL events, and top-performing squads will compete in the Asia zone under the Challengers Southeast Asia structure.
The launch of the Manila server not only addresses long-standing technical challenges but also reflects Riot Games’ commitment to developing esports infrastructure in the Philippines. With faster connections, more stable gameplay, and the same competitive opportunities as other regions, the country is poised to become an even stronger force in the global VALORANT ecosystem.
As the Manila server goes live, Filipino players—from casual gamers to professional contenders—will finally have a home server tailored to their needs, opening the door for the next wave of esports success stories from the Philippines.
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