Valorant Moves to Unreal Engine 5 with Patch 11.02 — Game-Changer or Just Hype?
For the first time since its launch, Valorant is making a major technological leap. Patch 11.02 introduces Unreal Engine 5, a strategic transition that paves the way for an even more explosive future for Riot Games’ flagship FPS.
Riot Games is taking Valorant to the next level by moving its popular tactical shooter to Unreal Engine 5. While this update doesn’t drastically change player experience just yet, it lays the groundwork for a more ambitious future. At the same time, the dev team has tackled a number of bugs and tweaked gameplay elements. Here’s what’s new in version 11.02.
Image credit: Riot Games
A Pivotal Technological Shift
With patch 11.02, the game engine transitions from Unreal Engine 4.27 to version 5.3. While players may not immediately notice big differences, this change opens the door to exciting improvements in graphics, performance, and development tools.
- The game size is now cut in half on your hard drive, despite a larger initial download for this patch.
- Minor performance boosts are already noticeable, especially on certain setups.
- The minimum system requirements have been updated and are available on the official website.
Welcome Changes to Maps
Riot is answering a long-standing community request: in-game location names will now remain in English. This move is aimed at improving cross-team communication, especially in international squads.
On the gameplay side, several tweaks address level design issues and agent interactions across different maps:
- Corrode has seen extensive fixes, especially for Raze, Jett, Deadlock, Killjoy, and Sova.
- On Pearl, Raze’s Showstopper is once again effective against enemies perched on the A Link box.
- Split had a visual bug where Sage’s wall could float unsupported—this has now been fixed.
Smoother Agent Mechanics
This patch also brings a host of agent-specific bug fixes, eliminating issues related to their abilities or visuals:
- Astra: Gravity Well was occasionally playing the wrong sound—this is now fixed.
- Gekko: Audio issues with Dizzy and Mosh Pit have been resolved.
- Killjoy: The Iso’s Fracture ability will no longer wrongly disable her Turret.
- Yoru: The glowing hand that mysteriously appeared with Gatecrash is gone.
- Cypher: Spycam visuals are now displayed correctly.
- Phoenix: Hot Hands no longer shows an icon on the minimap after expiring.
A Bonus for Tech Enthusiasts
To celebrate this tech upgrade, players can now unlock an exclusive new weapon buddy: “High-Tech Debut”. It’s a fun little nod to hardware and software fans—just log in to your Valorant account to add it to your collection today.
Patch 11.02 for Valorant is more than just a technical update. It’s a statement of intent: Riot is pushing the game forward by betting on cutting-edge tech to ensure stability, scalability, and innovation. While the visual differences may still be subtle, the groundwork is being laid for major upgrades in the near future.
For now, the agent and map fixes should already provide a smoother and fairer gameplay experience. And if you’re a collector, the cosmetic bonus will be a nice addition to your arsenal.
With Valorant celebrating its five-year anniversary this year, don’t miss the newly released anniversary music video by Riot Games. Explosive beats, iconic references, and a heartfelt tribute to the community—it’s a must-watch for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the world of Valorant.
So—ready for what’s next in Valorant?
