It’s been a while since we received an update from the developers regarding Riot’s activities. A few days before Masters Shanghai, the VALORANT dev team posted an update about their plan for the year ahead. They also discussed the new agent changes that are coming soon. Additionally, the highly awaited “replay mode” feature has been addressed by the developers. Keep reading to learn everything about the latest VALORANT dev update.
Map Rotations and a Possible New Map
The devs first addressed the “boring” map rotations that have plagued the game for a year. The upcoming 8.11 update in June will feature the return of Haven in the map rotation. Split and Breeze will be removed from the pool to accommodate Haven. The extra space has hinted at a possible new map. The devs did not confirm this themselves, so only time will tell if there’s a new map in the pool.
Changes to Duelists
Three duelists—Raze, Neon, and Iso—are the focus for 2024. Over the course of this year, players can expect changes to these three agents to balance the overall meta. The developers pointed out that VALORANT is still a tactical shooter game. Solely focusing on agent abilities would ruin the core intent of the game, which they do not plan to do.
Raze will receive a movement nerf by decreasing her satchel mobility. Neon will feature an improved sliding mechanic, while Iso’s shield will also be buffed. The devs stated that these changes will balance the game better. Other agents, such as Reyna, will also be buffed over the year, but the specific changes have yet to be revealed.
Devs Confirm an Outlaw Skin Is Coming Soon To Valorant
With the success of the Mystbloom bundle, the devs have moved on to upcoming skins and what to expect. They have confirmed that they are working on a premium Outlaw skin. This skin is set to be part of the 2.0 bundle of a previous successful bundle. Currently, the Outlaw does not have any premium skins. According to the design head of VALORANT, skin designs take significantly longer to create than many imagine. No confirmed release date for this new skin has been announced yet.
Updates on Replay Mode
The most awaited feature yet to be added in VALORANT is a “replay mode.” For the past two years, every comment under any dev post has questioned the addition of a replay mode. This trend appeared on almost every social media platform, from Instagram to TikTok. It turned into a meme due to the devs never addressing this feature.
Finally, the devs officially discussed it and even showcased a replay system they have been developing. Currently, the replay mode struggles to keep up with real-time data. The devs demonstrated various challenges and glitches in the present replay mode. The timings of abilities, such as Brimstone’s smokes, were significantly off when compared to real-time data. The devs acknowledged the ongoing demand for a replay mode but suggested it will likely come into the game next year. Everything else mentioned in the dev update had a specific timeline, but the replay mode was only given a “coming soon” title.
