VALORANT, currently running on Unreal Engine 4, is moving to Unreal Engine 5 in July 2025 with the release of patch 11.02. This update was announced by the developers in a new video on the game’s official YouTube channel.

Unreal Engine 4 was a top-tier engine when VALORANT’s development began over a decade ago, but most modern games are now shifting to newer platforms. While the switch to UE5 has been anticipated for a while, it will officially happen at the end of July alongside patch 11.02. This move will allow for faster patch deployment to live servers, improved player performance, and better development tools for adding new features and improvements. Players who log in during patch 11.02 will receive a free gun buddy as a thank-you gift.

The developers have warned that the patch size will be significant, as it's a full engine migration. However, they reassured players that the game will feel just the same: all existing lineups and mechanics will continue to work. The release is expected in late July with patch 11.02.