In need of a few extra VP, VALORANT player u/Emperyan_ drew agent Neon in a recreation of the iconic "Sanic" meme.
Ever been just a few credits short of getting a skin for your favorite game? With so many games nowadays offering in-game transactions for limited edition (or otherwise special) cosmetics, it's hard to resist the cool skins and items.
Many first-person shooter fans would say that this is especially true for Riot's VALORANT. The game's ever-expanding list of exciting agents and weapon items drive massive demand for in-game cosmetics - so much so that players dedicate significant time and money to collecting these items every season.
Though VALORANT's two in-game currencies - Valorant Points (VP) and Radianite Points (RP) - are primarily obtained through real-money purchases, there's more than one way to obtain them. One player took advantage of these ways, earning VP by recreating a popular Sonic meme, VALORANT style.
THE RECREATED VALORANT NEON SANIC MEME
Like many players, Reddit user Emperyan_ had their sights set on the season's latest battlepass. Usually, the battlepass costs 1000 VP, opening up potential premium rewards for players. Emperyan_, however, only had 945 VP, just 55 points short of their needed total.
Luckily, VALORANT actually hosts a special open submission program titled "VP for Art". Now, players can submit fan-made art in exchange for Riot in-game currency. These submission programs are actually a long-held tradition for Riot, as they've had a similar "Draw for RP" program for League of Legends. Taking advantage of the open submissions, Emperyan_ drew the agent Neon as an old Sonic meme.
Emperyan_'s Art
Indeed, it goes without saying that Emperyan_ really, truly captured the original meme's aesthetic. Named "Sanic Hegehog," this meme originated back in 2010 in a YouTube video titled "How 2 Draw Sanic Hegehog". The creator, 0nyxheart, has since removed the original video, but Sanic went on to achieve internet fame.
Surprisingly enough, Riot responded to Emperyan_'s meme shortly after submission. Thanking them for their art, they made a special exception for Emperyan_ and gifted them 55 VP rather than the usual max of 50. Additionally, as if it couldn't get any funnier, several Riot developers actually responded to Emperyan_'s post on Reddit:
Following that, Riot VFX artist Pierre-Luc Jacques (u/Riot_PJacques) commented, "Omg I'll be using the Sanic-Neon emote all the time haha Thank you for blessing us with the masterpiece." All in all, I think we can all thank Emperyan_ for their hilarious work of art.
Now, VALORANT Episode 4 Act 1 is free to play on PC.