Game designer Kevin Meier walks us through Miks’ character design as he introduces the next agent joining VALORANT.
Miks is the 30th agent joining VALORANT. Kevin Meier explains the inspirations behind the Miks’ design, outlines the goals for the agent, and shows how his kit could change the way the game is played.
Music is also a big part of Miks’ backstory prior to joining VALORANT, which we’re excited for players to hear more about in the future. His background reinforces his high-energy, social personality, since music is inherently mood-lifting, just like he is.
Kevin Meier on Miks’ lore
How music shaped Miks character’s design
Miks’ entire character design revolves around music as a central theme. On the gameplay side, the team drew inspiration from sound waves, and music influenced the names of his abilities. For the game design team, it was crucial to integrate all these elements into its development. “We focused on extracting the most vibey elements and building the sound effects from there,” explained Kevin Meier, the game designer behind Miks.
Both his Concuss and Harmonize abilities lean into bass-heavy tones. His ultimate, BASSQUAKE, recreates the sensation of standing at the front of a concert, too close to the speakers. That intense feeling of being close to the music and the artists, the sensation of being transported to another world, strongly influenced Miks’ design.
However, music is not only present in his kit, but it is also part of his visual identity. From the boldly colored wave patterns and sound paneling on his outfit to the festival bracelets on his wrists, every detail of Miks’ design is inspired by sound. Before joining VALORANT, Miks had already built connections in the music scene. The lore team will explore that part of his story in more detail in the future.
“Music is also a big part of Miks’ backstory prior to joining VALORANT, which we’re excited for players to hear more about in the future. His background reinforces his high-energy, social personality, since music is inherently mood-lifting, just like he is,” Meier explained.
Gameplay style
For Meier, Miks’ gameplay is teamwork-first. “From dropping smokes, to healing, and providing combat stim, players will often be focusing on their allies when making decisions,” he explained. He’s able to change the tempo as a round progresses based on what his team needs as well.
Miks was built for socially motivated players. Those who take pride in helping their teammates succeed. By enabling and supporting your team, you’ll make a meaningful impact on the battlefield. You’ll also empower your teammates in the moments that matter most. Miks will enter VALORANT on March 18. His kit and abilities will be showcased during the VALORANT Masters Santiago showmatch on March 15.