Valorant is the next big video game breaking records on Twitch - here's how to play it for free

A new video game that took the live-streaming service Twitch by storm is now available to play for free.

Valorant is a multiplayer first-person shooter, and it's already close to taking Fortnite's crown as one of the most popular games in the world.

The game's closed beta period began in April and attracted 1.7 million concurrent viewers to Twitch, becoming one of the most popular games viewed on the site before it was technically even been released.

At the peak of the game’s popularity, close to 2 million people were watching others play the game at the same time; just shy of the current record number of concurrent viewers on Twitch held by Fortnite.

Here's everything you need to know about the new game:

What is Valorant?

Valorant is a free-to-play multiplayer first-person shooter, in which two teams of five play against each other.

The game falls into the 'hero' sub-genre of games, in which players pick from a roster of unique characters, each with their own abilities; there are currently ten known "agents" in Valorant.

In the game's main mode, the attacking team has a bomb that they need to plant.

If the attacking team successfully protects the bomb and it detonates, they get a point. But if the defending team defuses the bomb or the 100-second round timer expires, they get the point.

Points can also be gained by eliminating all opposing team members in a round, and the first team to win the best of 25 rounds wins the match.

Why is the game proving so popular?