Valorant is making the move to Unreal Engine 5, but don't expect an immediate visual upgrade with the transition. According to Valorant studio head Anna Donlon at Riot, this is a "necessary" change that could pave the way for "new playable experiences" within the Valorant universe. Speaking at Unreal Fest Seattle 2024, Donlon discussed how integral Unreal Engine has been for the hero shooter, noting that her team has "squeezed literally every ounce of everything we could get out of UE4, so now we make the move to UE5." Donlon acknowledged the challenges of transitioning a live-service game but emphasized that it is "necessary, for sure."
Donlon tempered player expectations for a significant visual overhaul with the move to Unreal Engine 5. However, she hinted at an expansion of the Valorant universe, saying, "This upgrade is not going to significantly change how Val looks or performs, at least not right away." She added, "But here's what I can say: There are many developers back at Riot who are incredibly grateful for what Unreal has allowed us to do for players. There are many developers back at Riot who are very excited about what UE5 can do for us in the future." Perhaps, those developers are working on something she can't yet discuss, or maybe they're exploring ways to expand the Valorant universe into new playable experiences.
Additionally, Donlon credited Unreal Engine with enabling Valorant's successful launch on consoles earlier this year. The hero shooter has since become one of the most-played games on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. In August, Valorant introduced Vyse, a new agent with abilities that can force players to use a less effective gun, primarily focusing on stunning enemies. For more insights, check out GameSpot's Valorant review.
