Valorant Prepares Major Overhaul with Engine Upgrade, Replay System & Competitive Tweaks

Big changes are coming to Valorant throughout 2025, as Riot Games rolls out a series of impactful updates aimed at improving performance, deepening competitive integrity, and enriching the gameplay experience for both newcomers and veterans alike.

🚀 Unreal Engine 5 Upgrade Arrives in July

Beginning with Patch 11.02 in July 2025, Valorant will officially transition from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5. This long-awaited move is expected to bring smoother frame rates, faster loading times, and overall better performance, particularly on modern systems.

Despite the engine switch, Riot reassures fans that Valorant's distinct visual identity will remain unchanged. As a token of celebration, all players who log in during Patch 11.02 will receive a special in-game "gun buddy" charm to commemorate the upgrade.

🔁 Replay System Launches in September

One of the community’s most requested features is finally on the horizon. Patch 11.06, launching in September 2025, will introduce a full replay system for PC players. This tool will allow users to rewatch recent competitive matches, offering a powerful way to review strategies, spot mistakes, and investigate suspicious behavior.

Riot also confirmed that console support for replays will follow later down the line, extending the feature’s benefits across platforms.

🛡️ Anti-Smurfing & Ranked Fairness Measures

To address the long-standing issue of smurfing—where high-skill players create new accounts to face less experienced opponents—Riot will implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accounts with suspicious activity.

Additionally, the studio is adding new tools for reporting rank abuse and matchmaking manipulation, reinforcing its commitment to a fairer, more competitive ranked experience.

🗺️ New Map & Ranking Adjustments Coming in June

The evolution begins early with Patch 11.0 in June 2025, which introduces a brand-new map to the Valorant pool. The map will be immediately available in competitive mode, but to help players adjust, RR (Ranked Rating) losses will be reduced by 50% on this map for the first two weeks. RR gains will remain unchanged.

These changes signal a major step forward for Valorant, combining technical advancements, quality-of-life improvements, and balanced competitive adjustments that promise to redefine the experience for years to come.