VALORANT's 5-year update brings replay system and a massive engine overhaul

As VALORANT celebrates its fifth anniversary, Riot Games is rolling out a massive wave of updates and new features designed to honor the game’s history and set the stage for its future. From gameplay balance to esports and technical upgrades, here’s everything coming to VALORANT as part of the 5-year celebration.

Free Anniversary Content: Nostalgia and Rewards

To mark five years of tactical shooter action, players can dive into a free event pass packed with callbacks to memorable in-game moments. Additionally, the 5 Years // Beta Remastered Capsule offers a true blast from the past, featuring a beloved Knife from the beta days, a new reactive gun buddy, and an animated player card that channels early VALORANT aesthetics.

VALORANT Replay System, Finally

After years of community requests, replays are finally coming to VALORANT. Launching with Patch 11.06 in September for PC (and later for console), the system will allow players to watch back recent competitive matches played on the current patch. Whether you're reviewing clutches, checking lineups, or learning from mistakes, replays give players a powerful tool for self-improvement and content creation.

This first version focuses on the Competitive mode, but Riot plans to expand the feature to other game modes over time. It’s a long-overdue quality-of-life upgrade that brings VALORANT closer in line with other leading esports titles.

Unreal Engine 5: A Foundation for VALORANT

Equally transformative is VALORANT’s upcoming migration to Unreal Engine 5, set to arrive with Patch 11.02 at the end of July. After initially launching and developing the game on Unreal Engine 4, the switch to UE5 signals a major leap forward in technology.

While the core gameplay and iconic look of VALORANT will remain untouched, players can expect improved framerate performance, faster future patch downloads, and a more robust foundation for future development. Riot is also offering a special gun buddy for anyone who logs in during Patch 11.02 to commemorate the transition.

The update will come with a significantly larger download due to the engine overhaul, but Riot assures players that no major gameplay disruptions should occur. For veterans worried about their lineups and muscle memory, Riot has made sure to preserve VALORANT’s “feel”, as this is an engine upgrade, not a redesign.

Gameplay and Ability Balance Updates

Riot is using this milestone to take a holistic look at how the game plays. That means ability rebalancing is getting serious attention, especially for:

• Debuffs and full-site ultimates that might currently skew competitive integrity.
• Underperforming abilities that don’t meet the bar for clear counterplay.

Recent updates already reflect this approach - Brimstone’s molly audio, Raze’s explosion visuals, and Deadlock’s Barrier Mesh readability have all been improved. Expect these tuning updates to roll out steadily, with more adjustments planned after Champions.

New Map Launch Incentive

Patch 11.00 will introduce a new Competitive map right from day one. To ease players into the unfamiliar terrain, RR losses on the new map will be reduced by 50% during the first two weeks. Wins, however, will still count for full RR. It’s a smart way to promote exploration without the usual ranked anxiety.

Smurfing and Player Behavior Improvements

To crack down on account sharing and smurfing, Riot is implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Initially targeting suspicious activity, this could soon be extended to all Competitive accounts.

Later this year, a new player behavior visibility system will let users see active warnings or penalties and what future consequences might look like, bringing more transparency to the disciplinary process.

Competitive: Team Tags and Pick’Ems Return

Competitive play is getting more social and more rewarding. In Patch 11.00, Premier Team Tags will be available to players participating in Weekly Matches. Teams that win the Playoff Tournament will also receive a special reward.

On the global stage, Pick’Ems are making a comeback for Masters Toronto. Following their successful debut at Champions Seoul, these prediction challenges will now be featured at all Masters and Champions events.

Esports: A New Era for 2027

The current VCT team partnership model concludes in 2026, and Riot is already planning for the future. Three key goals shape the next chapter:

• More Openness - better pathways from Tier 2 and grassroots tournaments to the big leagues.
• More Flexibility - a wider variety of formats and events across the globe.
• More Ecosystem Moments - increasing regional and global events that combine gameplay, community, and culture.

Looking Ahead

VALORANT’s fifth anniversary isn't just a celebration - it's a bold evolution. With system upgrades, balance tweaks, and community-focused features, Riot is showing its commitment to a long and thriving future. Whether you’ve been here since beta or just locked in recently, Year 5 is the perfect time to get back into the game

For all things VCT-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/Edited by THESPIKE.GG