Riot Games is about to roll out one of the most significant technical upgrades in Valorant’s history. With Patch 11.02 arriving on July 29th, the tactical shooter will officially migrate from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5. Beyond just a shiny new engine, this change redefines technical backend performance while setting the stage for scalable content, enhanced visuals, and improved hardware utilization. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know before the update arrives – including storage considerations, system upgrades, and what this overhaul means for the future of Valorant.
UE5 Upgrade Arrives in Patch 11.02 – What Does It Change?
The Unreal Engine 5 migration isn’t simply a visual polish. With Patch 11.02, Riot Games is rewiring the foundation on which Valorant operates to enhance scalability, improve resource handling, and future-proof the engine to support updates for years to come. Although gameplay mechanics and the visual identity of Valorant will remain familiar, the improvements under the hood bring with them better load management, faster render processing, and more efficient content deployment across all platforms.
Disk Space Requirements and Install Size Clarified
One pressing concern among players is whether the UE5 patch will balloon Valorant’s file size. Fortunately, the answer is reassuring. According to a recent official Riot FAQ:
“The game package will actually be smaller than before the upgrade, given the same amount of content.”
While the final install size will shrink, there’s a short-term requirement of at least 30GB of free space during the patching process. This is necessary because of how Unreal Engine 5 compresses and rewrites existing game files.
Quick Takeaways:
- Make sure to allocate 30GB of free storage for the patch installation.
- The final game size will be smaller than it currently is.
- This space requirement is temporary and only applies during the update process.
Why You Should Be Using an SSD Right Now
Riot has made their position on legacy drives clear. To put it bluntly: It’s time to ditch your HDD. With the introduction of Unreal Engine 5, SSD usage is strongly recommended to maintain optimal load times and in-game performance. Particularly, NVMe SSDs will offer the most seamless experience.
If you continue to run Valorant from a traditional hard drive, you may notice extended load screens, startup delays, and potential frame stutter. The game is now optimized for SSDs as the baseline, making it a critical asset for a competitive edge.
Performance Insights: What You Can Expect
Contrary to fears that the visual improvements tied to Unreal Engine 5 would drag down FPS, Riot Games has emphasized performance gains – especially on low-end hardware. In fact, Riot states that low-tier systems could see better FPS and load times thanks to improved asset streaming and optimization via UE5.
This means that budget builds and older gaming laptops may actually benefit from the switch. Riot hasn’t changed the minimum or recommended specs either, making this upgrade inclusive to a wide player base.
Curious about real-world low-end performance? Content creator Keltsu has announced plans to test the update on a low-spec laptop. You can find his video below for an early look at the results.
Updated System Requirements for Valorant Post-UE5
Though UE5 is more advanced, Riot hasn’t increased official specs across the board. Below are the suggested post-update requirements:
| Category | Minimum | Recommended | High/Max Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel i3-540 / AMD Athlon 200GE | Intel i3-4150 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel i5-9400F / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X |
| GPU | Intel HD 4000 / AMD Radeon R5 200 | GT 730 / Radeon R7 240 | GTX 1050 Ti / R7 370 / Intel Arc A310 |
| VRAM | 1 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| OS | Windows 10/11 (64-bit only) | ||
| Resolution | 1024×768 | 1920×1080 | 2560×1440 |
| Storage | ~30GB free during update – smaller size post-install | ||
Note: An SSD is now essential across all system tiers for smooth gameplay.
Long-Term Benefits of Unreal Engine 5 for Valorant
This upgrade lays the groundwork for years of content expansion and real-time enhancements. While the first UE5 patch focuses on system stability and back-end improvements, future updates may unlock higher fidelity features including superior particle effects, dynamic lighting, richer environmental detail, and nuanced character animations. Thanks to this foundational shift, development pipelines for Riot’s team will be more agile, allowing Valorant to evolve faster than before.
Key Questions About the UE5 Update, Answered
When does the Unreal Engine 5 update release?
Patch 11.02 officially launches on July 29th.
How much space do I need for the update?
You’ll need to clear out at least 30GB of free space to safely install the update.
Will the game be larger post-update?
No. According to Riot, the game will actually be smaller in file size after the changes are implemented.
Do I need an SSD?
Yes. Riot strongly recommends using an SSD or NVMe drive for reduced load time and frame consistency.
How will this affect low-end PCs?
Gamers running on older rigs might actually experience better performance thanks to optimizations in the UE5 engine.
Is this update focused on graphics?
No. While Unreal Engine 5 supports advanced visuals, this initial rollout prioritizes engine stability, scalability, and long-term performance.
Can I still run the game on an HDD?
Yes, but expect sluggish boot times and increased stuttering during gameplay. Switching to an SSD is strongly advised.
Source:
For more official Valorant updates like this, visit AllValorant.gg.
Source: Valorant’s Unreal Engine 5 Update Is Almost Here — What You NEED to Know Before July 29th
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