Summary
Riot Games confirmed thatValorantwill be moving to Unreal Engine 5, and the development team is working on “new playable experiences” that will expand its universe. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 will allowValorantto use new features that weren’t supported in the engine’s previous iteration, Unreal Engine 4.
Earlier this summer,Valorantfinally made its debut on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, introducing console players to the popular tactical hero shooter. With over 35 million monthly players, it’s clear that gamers on consoles and PC keep coming back toValorantto see what’s new and enjoy its precise and satisfying gunplay.Valorantfans still want more new features, including Battle Replay, to be implemented, and Riot Games switching the game’s engine from Unreal Engine 4 version 4.27 to Unreal Engine 5 could be the opportunity fans have been waiting for. Unreal Engine 5 includes several features that weren’t supported in Unreal Engine 4, such as the Lumen enhanced global illumination system, Nanite and virtual shadow maps, and temporal super resolution.
During theUnreal Fest Seattle 2024event, Riot Games executive producer Anna Donlon revealed thatValorantismaking the move to Unreal Engine 5, as the team “have squeezed every ounce of everything we could out of Unreal Engine 4.” Although the switch to the newer engine will not be easy, Donlon notes that it’s necessary, and the upgrade will not significantly change howValorantis played right away. The developers are very excited about what they can do with Unreal Engine 5 in the future, and Donlon notes that they’re thinking about ways to expand theValorantuniverse with new playable experiences. The executive producer can’t share any specific details about what these playable experiences are just yet, however.
Valorant Will Move to Unreal Engine 5 and Bring New Playable Experiences
Near the end of the Riot Games segment, Donlon teased thattheValorantdevelopment teammay be up on stage with her in the future for a “very different sort of presentation,” implying that the hero shooter will get a dedicated event to detail the new experiences to come. It’s unclear when the switch to Unreal Engine 5 will be apparent for players, but Riot Games will likely share details on when an update is expected at a later date.
Valorantcontinues to be one ofthe best free-to-play PC games, and the Unreal Engine 5 upgrade could make the game even better with new features and modes. Players may look atFortniteas an example, as its own Unreal Engine 5 upgrade in 2022 brought graphical enhancements, ray tracing, and much more on supported platforms like PC and PlayStation 5.
Valorant
WHERE TO PLAY
VALORANT is a character-based 5v5 tactical shooter set on the global stage. Outwit, outplay, and outshine your competition with tactical abilities, precise gunplay, and adaptive teamwork.DEFY THE LIMITSBlend your style and experience on a global, competitive stage. You have 13 rounds to attack and defend your side using sharp gunplay and tactical abilities. And, with one life per-round, you’ll need to think faster than your opponent if you want to survive. Take on foes across Competitive and Unranked modes as well as Deathmatch and Spike Rush.CREATIVITY IS YOUR GREATEST WEAPONMore than guns and bullets, you’ll choose an Agent armed with adaptive, swift, and lethal abilities that create opportunities to let your gunplay shine. No two Agents play alike, just as no two highlight reels will look the same.FIGHT AROUND THE WORLDEach map is a playground to showcase your creative thinking. Purpose-built for team strategies, spectacular plays, and clutch moments. Make the play others will imitate for years to come.
