Valorant Upgrades to Unreal Engine 5 and Adds Replay System

Riot Games is set to transition Valorant, its widely popular first-person tactical hero shooter, from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 in July 2025. This upgrade marks a significant milestone as Valorant has been built on Unreal Engine 4 since its beta release in 2020, leveraging the engine for over a decade.

The switch to Unreal Engine 5, arriving with patch 11.02 at the end of July, promises to enhance framerate performance and speed up patch downloads, all without disrupting the core gameplay experience. Riot assures players that the game's look and feel will remain familiar while opening doors for future improvements in character models and animations.

To celebrate this major upgrade, players logging in during patch 11.02 will receive a special commemorative gun buddy, adding a collectible incentive tied to the engine transition.

In addition to the engine upgrade, Valorant will introduce a brand-new map later this month. This map will be available in competitive mode from day one, with a temporary 50% reduction in rank rating losses during the initial two-week adjustment period to help players acclimate.

September brings another eagerly awaited feature: a replay system launching first on PC with patch 11.06. This system will enable players to review recent competitive matches, facilitating better gameplay analysis and more effective reporting of cheating or disruptive behavior.

The replay functionality is expected to expand over time with additional modes, enhancing its utility. Alongside this, Riot is implementing multi-factor authentication to combat smurfing—where higher-ranked players use alternate accounts to unfairly boost rankings—and introducing new reporting tools to address rank and matchmaking abuses.

These updates collectively reflect Riot Games’ commitment to enhancing both the technical foundation and competitive integrity of Valorant. The Unreal Engine 5 upgrade not only optimizes performance but also sets the stage for richer visual fidelity and smoother gameplay experiences in the future.

Meanwhile, the introduction of replays and enhanced security measures addresses long-standing community requests, empowering players with tools to improve their skills and maintain fair play. It’s a comprehensive approach that balances innovation with player experience.