- Riot Games confirmed Clove's gender to be non-binary in a dev Q&A.
- The devs used they/them as the preferred pronoun to address Clove.
- Earlier, Riot Games had revealed Valorant agents Raze and Killjoy as the first queer couple in Valorant.
Inclusivity has been a part of video games for ages, and it seems Valorant also wants to put its best foot forward. Earlier, Riot Games confirmed the relationship of Killjoy and Raze, making them the first queer couple in the game. Recently, it was rumored that Riot might add a non-binary agent to Valorant. That rumor has come true, and we have the answer for Clove’s gender in Valorant.
Is Valorant’s New Agent Clove Non-Binary?
Yes, Clove (see list of abilities) is the first and official non-binary agent in Valorant. It was officially confirmed by John Goscicki, the Agents Lead at Riot Games. Throughout the dev Q&A, Clove has been addressed with they/them pronouns. When asked about Clove’s gender identity, Goscicki said,
When creating an Agent, we strive to authentically represent a cast of diverse characters that reflect our global player base. This extends beyond just location and culture – Clove’s gender identity, along with their personality and unique gameplay style, is an equally important facet that has helped shape who they are as a VALORANT Agent.
It is worth noting that Valorant agents represent a set of people, culture, and the wider player base. Having a non-binary agent in the game will inspire more who did not feel included in the Valorant community earlier. Giving Raze and Killjoy a proper queer identity and relationship after two years of buildup through multiple banners, voice lines, and animations already was a good step forward.
The Scottish troublemaker Clove’s inclusion as a non-binary agent in Valorant will also give a huge dynamic to the player base. Not only their abilities and playstyle but also their appearance and voice lines represent them as non-binary.
Games like Apex Legends and Overwatch have already been vocal about their openness towards the LGBTQ community and created lores and identities around various characters. This has been seen in voice lines, comic panels, and other teasers or trailers inside and outside Apex Legends.
Every legend in Apex Legends proudly wears their sexuality or gender identity. Be it Loba, Catalyst, Fuse, or Bloodhound, every single one of them represents a gender identity that players can relate to and feel accepted. Giving a proper identity to characters that players play in the game every day can make it more representative and relatable.
Will Riot Games also take the Respawn route and make Valorant more inclusive for different gender identities? At this point, giving Clove their identity already seems like a huge step forward. What do you think about games defining a back story and assigning gender roles to characters? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
