Valorant confirmed fans' longstanding theory about Raze and Killjoy's relationship. The two agents have been known to have a friendly rivalry as they're both inventors in their own right. This could be seen in Valorant's cinematics and heard in their in-game voice lines.
Fans have long speculated that Raze and Killjoy could be romantically linked because of hints shown in various Valorant media. A notable one was a Killjoy doll spotted in Raze's workshop in the "Raze: The Color of The Town" music video. However, Riot Games devs have dodged the question a few times. In a Reddit Q&A two years ago, Valorant creative director David "Riot KingKut" Nottingham noted that the agents "seemed to be friends," which was echoed by some of his colleagues. Despite this, fans still persisted, dubbing Raze and Killjoy's ship as "Nanobomb."
On December 11, Valorant finally confirmed the real score between the two. During a recent photo series where the agents visited Raze's hometown of Salvador, the game's official Twitter account posted a shot of Raze and Killjoy sharing a kiss while sitting on a bench. It also looked like Raze gifted Killjoy a new hoodie. Shortly after, the Valorant account tweeted "nanobomb." It also admitted in one reply that it was the "worst-kept secret" in the Valorant community.
Many Valorant fans welcomed the news, sharing how happy they were that Raze and Killjoy are officially a couple. Influencers and content creators also chimed in. Streamer Flexinja said it was "beautiful," while esports host Yinsu Collins requested for a TV series showcasing Raze and Killjoy's partnership. Fans have asked for a Valorant TV show adaptation for a while now, especially after the success of Arcane.
There also seem to be Valorant players who didn't like the fact that Raze and Killjoy's relationship is now canon. Many said it felt forced because they had assumed that both agents were straight. Streamer AverageJonas called out people who were offended by seeing two female video game characters kissing, telling them to rethink their values and not interact with his content. He also explained to one follower that Valorant devs have been hinting at Nanobomb "for ages," and that each agent's sexual orientation wasn't established upfront in the first place. Plus, this isn't the first time Riot Games introduced an LGBT couple in their games. Earlier this year, Riot confirmed Twisted Fate and Grave's relationship in League of Legends.
Now that Raze and Killjoy's relationship is canon, fans might feel more invested in Valorant's future lore content, especially with the game's newest episode coming up. Plus, FPS gamers will now have a new couple to root for in addition to Apex Legends' Bloodhound and Fuse.
Valorant is available now on PC.