VALORANT has reached a major technological milestone with Patch 11.02, which delivers the highly anticipated upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.3. While this update prioritizes foundational improvements over immediate gameplay changes, it sets the stage for enhanced visuals, performance, and expanded content in the future. Below, we break down the impactful performance upgrades, bug fixes, and subtle gameplay enhancements shaping this evolution.
Next-Gen Momentum: VALORANT Transitions to Unreal Engine 5
Patch 11.02 marks a significant shift in VALORANT’s development engine, moving from Unreal Engine 4.27 to Unreal Engine 5.3. While the upgrade doesn’t immediately overhaul gameplay, the infrastructure behind the scenes is a leap forward in technical capabilities.
What Players Can Expect with UE5
- Performance Optimization: Players may experience smoother gameplay with minor FPS boosts across various hardware setups.
- Reduced File Size: Installation size is now roughly 50% smaller once the patch is applied, freeing up storage space.
- Temporary Larger Download: Due to the engine switch, this patch’s download size is notably larger, but future patches will return to standard sizes.
- Future-Ready Infrastructure: Unreal Engine 5 provides modern development tools and rendering techniques that pave the way for high-fidelity assets and expanded gameplay potential.
To commemorate the engine swap, Riot Games has added the “Hot New Engine” gun buddy to all players’ collections – a cosmetic nod to this technological leap.
Heads up: The system requirements for VALORANT have changed. Be sure to review the new hardware specifications to ensure compatibility.
Critical Issue Resolutions: Full Sweep of Bug Fixes
Patch 11.02 also initiates a substantial round of quality-of-life adjustments. From interface fixes to agent recalibrations, this update shores up longstanding issues across roles and maps.
User Interface and Gameplay UI
- Corrected armor HUD alignment for cleaner in-game readouts.
Key Agent Fixes
| Agent | Issue Resolved |
|---|---|
| Astra | Corrected audio cues for allied/self-cast Gravity Wells. |
| Gekko | Fixed Dizzy’s proximity audio and Thrash’s sound effects as heard by enemies. |
| Killjoy | Resolved an issue where Iso’s Undercut would disable Killjoy’s turret without affecting the agent. |
| Yoru | Eliminated an unintended glow in Yoru’s right hand when an enemy Gatecrash was nearby. |
| Cypher | Spycam dart visual effects corrected in first-person view. |
| Phoenix | Blaze’s minimap icon no longer lingers after expiration. |
Expansive Map Cleanup: Exploit and Geometry Fixes
Map integrity has been tightened with updates to three key locations: Corrode, Pearl, and Split.
Corrode
- Improved Alarmbot onboarding for Killjoy in B-Site Tower and B Main.
- Resolved Raze’s boost exploit within Defender Spawn.
- Deadlock can no longer use ultimate through unintended geometry boundaries.
- Jett’s ability to hover on unreachable terrain was patched.
- Sova’s drone can no longer exploit elevated angles on B Site.
- Additional geometry issues were cleaned up across the map.
Pearl
- Raze’s Showstopper now properly damages enemies standing on A Link Box.
Split
- Sage can no longer float Barrier Orb near A Site rafters without support.
Celebrating the Update: Patch Features Worth Noting
- Players can now access the new SplashX skin line, bringing bright, water-themed designs to several weapons.
- NVIDIA driver updates are available to complement the performance of Unreal Engine 5 and support low-latency gameplay via NVIDIA Reflex.
- Staggered downtime ensured a smooth patch rollout across global servers.
Looking Ahead: What Unreal Engine 5 Means for VALORANT
VALORANT’s Patch 11.02 serves as a foundational release that primes the game for the future. The upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 authorizes the deployment of richer visual updates, quicker patch cycles, and streamlined file systems. While immediate updates target bug squashing and optimization, the long-term benefits include vastly improved development flexibility and scalability for Riot’s tactical shooter.
Expect a more efficient client, cleaner agent interactions, and polished competitive play across the board. With a modern engine now under the hood, VALORANT is poised to evolve into one of the most visually immersive and technically sound multiplayer shooters of the decade.
For continued patch coverage, meta analysis, and the latest pro scene updates, be sure to visit AllValorant.gg.
Source: VALORANT on Twitter – Patch Notes 11.02
Frequently Asked Questions about VALORANT Patch 11.02
Q: Is Unreal Engine 5 changing how the game plays?
A: Not immediately. The gameplay experience remains unchanged for now, with gradual performance and visual improvements expected down the line.
Q: Why is this patch download so large?
A: The full engine upgrade requires a substantial one-time download (approximately 25–30 GB). After installation, the game will occupy half the disk space, and future patches will return to typical sizes.
Q: Is my PC still good enough to run VALORANT?
A: Riot has revised the minimum and recommended specs. See the latest system requirements here. Legacy hardware may no longer be supported.
Q: What’s the “Hot New Engine” gun buddy?
A: It’s a new universal cosmetic designed to acknowledge the Unreal Engine 5 milestone. Check your cosmetics tab to equip it.
Q: What was fixed on Corrode?
A: Multiple bugs were addressed, from agent geometry exploits (Raze, Jett, Deadlock), to Sova drone height and Killjoy Alarmbot pathing issues.
Q: Which agent bugs were addressed?
A: Astra, Gekko, Killjoy, Yoru, Cypher, and Phoenix all received targeted bug fixes for critical gameplay and visual issues.
Source: VALORANT Patch 11.02: Unreal Engine 5 Arrives, Massive Disk Space Cut, and a Wave of Bug Fixes
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