VALORANT Patch 11.02: Unreal Engine 5 is finally here

VALORANT hits a huge technical milestone today with its official upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.3, marking a new chapter in the game’s evolution. While the immediate differences for players might seem subtle, this switch is set to unlock significant improvements and long-term possibilities for everyone in the VALORANT community.

For players now, players can expect smoother gameplay and small performance boosts, especially on a range of hardware. Riot is keeping the visuals largely unchanged in Patch 11.02, but under the surface, the groundwork for future technical leaps has been laid.

To commemorate this technological leap, every player can find the exclusive “Hot New Engine” gun buddy in their collection.

Download and Installation Size

This update requires a larger-than-usual download to install the new game engine framework. Riot Games has recommended players keep at least 30 GB of free disk space for the update. However, the payoff is a reduced installation footprint. VALORANT now takes up about half of its previous disk space after you finish updating. Going forward, patch sizes will return to normal, so this is a one-time big download for notable future convenience.

Updated PC Requirements:

Along with the engine swap, Riot has updated the minimum and recommended system requirements for playing VALORANT. Here are the new specs you’ll need to meet:

• Windows: 10 (Build 19041+) or 11 64-bit
• SSE 4.2 or AVX Support
• RAM: 4GB
• VRAM: 1GB
• On Windows 11, TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot are required.

Sweeping Bug Fixes Across the Board

Patch 11.02 isn’t just an engine upgrade. Numerous quality of life and gameplay fixes are also accompanying the update to bolster the experience. Here’s what’s addressed:

General: Light and Heavy Armor icons are now properly aligned in the HUD. PC users also get an Agent ability panel alignment fix.

Agents:

• Astra: Gravity Well audio cues now work as intended.
• Gekko: Dizzy and Thrash’s sound/indicator bugs fixed.
• Killjoy: Iso’s Undercut no longer disables Turret unless it hits Killjoy herself; pathing for Alarmbot on Corrode resolved.
• Yoru: Visual bug with Gatecrash is fixed.
• Cypher: Spycam dart displays correct visuals in first-person.
• Phoenix: Blaze’s minimap icon now disappears promptly.

Maps:

• Corrode: Numerous fixes—from preventing Raze boosts, Deadlock ult exploits, to Sova drone height and Alarmbot pathing on B-Site and B Main.
• Pearl: Raze’s Showstopper now damages enemies correctly atop A Link Box.
• Split: Sage can no longer float her Barrier Orb wall in midair near A rafters.

With the Unreal Engine 5.3 upgrade, VALORANT is positioned nicely for major future advancements. While immediate changes are subtle, this update enables bigger improvements, enhanced stability, and exciting content ahead. Enjoy the smoother gameplay for now, and don’t forget your new gun buddy!

For all things VALORANT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games