Valorant 2.0: The Inevitable Shift to Unreal Engine 5
When Riot Games launched Valorant in 2020, they prioritized one thing above all else: performance. The game runs on a highly modified version of Unreal Engine 4.27, designed to ensure that even a decade-old laptop could hit 60 FPS. However, recent job listings and insider leaks suggest that "Project A" is ready for its next evolution.
Riot is reportedly in the advanced stages of porting Valorant to Unreal Engine 5.5. This isn't just a graphical update; it is a foundational shift that could finally bring features the community has been begging for.
Why Switch to UE5?
You might be asking, "If it isn't broke, why fix it?" The answer lies in future-proofing. UE5 offers tools that drastically reduce development time for new maps and agents.
- Lumen Lighting: While Valorant's art style is stylized, UE5's lighting system allows for more dynamic environments without baking shadows for hours. This could mean dynamic time-of-day changes in future maps.
- Chaos Physics: The current physics engine has limitations (we have all seen the weird ragdolls). Chaos Physics would allow for more consistent utility interactions and perhaps destructible elements in limited capacities.
What About Performance?
Will my FPS drop?
Riot is obsessive about the "128-tick experience." They are unlikely to release an update that tanks framerates. However, the minimum system requirements will likely rise. Support for ancient DirectX 10 cards may finally be dropped to allow for modern rendering techniques.
The Replay System Connection
The number one requested feature. Developers have hinted that the replay system was delayed because rebuilding it in the old engine was inefficient. The move to UE5 likely includes a native, robust replay viewer built from the ground up.
Console Parity
With Valorant now on PS5 and Xbox Series X, maintaining parity is easier on UE5, which has superior cross-platform tools compared to the older UE4 build.
When Can We Expect It?
Porting a live-service game with millions of daily players is like changing the engine of a plane while it is flying. Do not expect this tomorrow. Analysts predict a Late 2026 rollout, possibly coinciding with a major esports event like Champions.
Comments
Just give us a replay system. I don't care about lighting, I want to see how I died through that smoke.