VALStore - VALORANT Shop Notifier
By Usama
A tool that periodically checked a user’s VALORANT shop and sent alerts, but it stalled because it required username/password auth and never found reliable distribution.
What We Built
A small web app that let users sign in, periodically checked their VALORANT shop rotation, and notified them when items they wanted appeared.
Target Audience
VALORANT players who don’t want to open the game daily just to check the shop.
What We Tried
- Built the core checker + notification loop first - Tried positioning it as a convenience tool for “rare skins” / “don’t miss your rotation” - Looked for ways to make onboarding smoother, but the auth requirement stayed a blocker
Outcomes
- People liked the idea in theory - Most users bounced at the login step (no one wants to share game credentials) - Without trusted auth, growth stalled and distribution never took off
Why It Failed
Trust issue: requiring username/password killed adoption immediately Distribution: no strong channel to reach players at scale Product constraints: without an official/secure auth method, the best UX wasn’t possible
Lessons Learned
If your product needs sensitive credentials, adoption will be an uphill battle unless there’s a trusted auth flow. Distribution isn’t optional - build with a clear channel in mind early. Finally, validate the “can this be done safely?” question before investing in the full product.