• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides
  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Valorant Devs Explain Harbor Indian Origins

October 21, 2022 by Ophelie Castelot

Riot Games explored Indian mythology to create Valorant’s latest agent.

Ever since its release in 2019, Valorant has been adding new agents regularly, each with their own identity and unique abilities. The latest agent to join Riot Games’ FPS is Harbor, a Controller bending water to disrupt his enemies and protect his teammates.

Each Valorant agent has their own culture and comes from a specific part of the world. Brimstone and Viper both come from the United States, Killjoy is German, Phoenix is from the United Kingdom, and Chamber is French. The 21st agent joining Valorant, Harbor, is from India. 

Harbor, whose real name is Varun Batra, is a former task force agent. He gained his water-bending powers after a mission in Mumbai, where he came into contact with a powerful artifact. During the October 17 dev team stream, Senior Narrative Writer Ryan Clements and Senior Game Producer John Goscicki opened up about the inspirations behind Harbor’s design.

“We weren’t interested in the Western concept of an adventurer and treasure hunter,” said Clements. “We wanted something different. We wanted something that felt right for engaging from India so that’s why we really wanted to lean into this special operative, military guy that is an expert and has integrity.”

Harbor is the first Valorant agent coming from India. The Valorant team researched the country’s culture and mythology to create a hero that could be as representative as possible. 

“We watch a lot of movies, we read books, we look up as much stuff as we can online,” explained Goscicki. “We hired an academic consultant to talk to. We met with a lot of Indian writers around the office and so it’s just about coming from a place of, we need to learn and know more to respect the culture and the history and the players themselves. So when they’re picking this agent they are seeing parts of their culture represented in them.”

Harbor joined the Valorant roster on October 18, as part of Episode 5 Act 3. He is the fifth Controller of the game, alongside Brimstone, Viper, Omen, and Astra. Their goal is to prevent the enemy team from having a clear line of sight on their teammates, forcing the enemy team into choke points for their allies to take them out. To do so, Harbor packs powerful water abilities, allowing him to send waves rolling forward with Cascade, create a sphere of shielding water with Cove, cast a wall of water with High Tide, or summon a geyser pool with his ultimate ability, Reckoning.

Valorant is a free-to-play FPS available on Microsoft Windows.

Source

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

10 Games That Turned Into MICROTRANSACTION HELLS

10 Games That Turned Into MICROTRANSACTION HELLS

10 GENIUS moments in Flop Games

10 GENIUS moments in Flop Games

10 Games That RUINED Single Player Games For Us

10 Games That RUINED Single Player Games For Us

20 LEGENDARY Games Worth Revisiting in 2025

20 LEGENDARY Games Worth Revisiting in 2025

CHEATER FINED $175000, RED DEAD ONLINE RETURNS? & MORE

CHEATER FINED $175000, RED DEAD ONLINE RETURNS? & MORE

What The HELL is GOING on With Xbox?

What The HELL is GOING on With Xbox?

10 LOCKED Areas Developers Didn't Think WE'D UNLOCK

10 LOCKED Areas Developers Didn't Think WE'D UNLOCK

Top 25 NEW Games of 2025 [Second Half]

Top 25 NEW Games of 2025 [Second Half]

10 WEIRD Gaming Stories of June 2025

10 WEIRD Gaming Stories of June 2025

Category: UpdatesTag: PC, Riot Games, Valorant

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Rumor: The Switch 2’s Screen Uses LTPS Screens, A Reasonable Middle Ground From IPS LCD to OLED
  • Ubisoft Lays Off 19 Employees In Red Storm Due To “Ongoing, Targeted Restructuring”
  • Rumor: Multiple Fallout Games Are In Development, Including “The One You’re All Wanting”
  • Pokémon Go: Gigantamax Lapras Max Battle Day Schedule and Bonuses
  • Pokémon Go – Ultra Unlock: Steel and Scales Schedule and Bonuses

Copyright © 2025 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme