Valorant is swapping to a new engine

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  • AmrAli1's Avatar
    Level 52
    Riot Games has officially confirmed that Valorant will transition to Unreal Engine 5 in the near future, marking a significant step in the game's development.




    Anna Donlan the Studio Head of Valorant at Riot Games takes the stage at the 1:28:21 mark below.



    Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, has been a key tool in game development for years. Initially, Valorant was built using Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), but with the release of UE5 in 2022, the team is now ready to take advantage of the new engine's capabilities.




    At Unreal Fest 2024, Valorant Studio Head Anna Donlan addressed the change, acknowledging that while Valorant may not be known for cutting-edge graphics, the move to UE5 is about more than just visual improvements. "Graphics-forward is likely not one of the first things people think about when talking about Valorant," Donlan joked

    comparing the game’s visuals to other titles with expansive, dynamic worlds. However, she emphasized that Unreal Engine’s strengths go beyond visuals, providing a strong technical foundation that helps with player orientation and overall game experience.


    One of the key advantages Unreal Engine has brought to Valorant is the ability to port the game to consoles.
    Donlan noted that the existing support in UE4 made it possible for Valorant to make the leap to consoles, which was a significant achievement for Riot Games.




    This shift to UE5 aims to give the development team more flexibility and agility, enabling them to push boundaries in different areas of the game.
    Despite the transition to UE5, Donlan assured players that there will be no immediate, noticeable changes in the gameplay or graphics of Valorant. “I can’t list off specific features in UE5 that will drastically change the game right now,” she said.


    The move is more about preparing for the future and unlocking potential for new experiences. Donlan hinted at possible expansions, whether through new game modes or even full-fledged games set in the Valorant universe, suggesting that the new engine will give developers the creative freedom to experiment in ways that weren’t possible before.
  • 4 Replies

  • Aapje's Avatar
    Level 16
    That should save them a lot of money in maintaining their own engine.
  • Abdelsalam's Avatar
    Level 26
    This sounds awesome, but I do hope they’re testing this new UE5 build and assuring it hits performance targets.
    I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye
  • miskkie's Avatar
    Level 10
    Interesting to see what new things this might open up for the game.