Riot Games has announced that Valorant will be transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 in the near future. But what implications will this have for the popular tactical shooter? Here’s what players should be aware of.
Video game engines serve as the backbone of any title. Every mechanic, unique feature, or design element is constructed using the tools provided by the selected engine. While some game studios, like Naughty Dog, create their own proprietary engines to achieve industry-leading visuals, others utilize established engines for their game development.
Valorant falls into the latter category, as Riot opted for Unreal Engine, a platform developed by Epic Games. Initially, during the game’s development, Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) was the focus, but this is set to change. Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) was first unveiled in 2020 and became available to developers in 2022.
With Valorant having been on the market for over four years, Riot aims to upgrade its engine to incorporate the latest features that UE5 offers. What does this transition mean for the game going forward? Let’s break down what we know so far.
Anna Donlon has confirmed VALORANT will be moving to Unreal Engine 5. “This upgrade is not going to significantly change how VAL looks or performs, at least not right away.”pic.twitter.com/1wXeIqJxEh
— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) October 1, 2024
Why is Valorant Transitioning to Unreal Engine 5?
Given that Valorant is not the most visually stunning game on the market, you might wonder why the developers are pivoting to a new engine. At Unreal Fest 2024, Valorant’s Studio Head, Anna Donlan, acknowledged this perception.
“While I imagine folks would have many positive things to say about the game, graphics-forward is likely not one of them,” Donlan quipped.
In comparison to other ambitious games featuring expansive worlds or complex day-night cycles, Valorant falls short on visual spectacle. Nonetheless, Unreal Engine provides benefits in other crucial areas. Riot is committed to “player orientation,” as emphasized by Donlan. “What Unreal has brought to Valorant is the very strongest of foundations.”
While the visual aspect of Valorant may not be groundbreaking, the transition to UE5 is not fundamentally about enhancing graphics.
Donlan provided an example of how Valorant’s adaptation for console became possible due to the existing console compatibility within UE4. “For Riot, we had never launched a live service game on console before,” she explained.
Rather than forming an entirely new team, Riot was able to exploit the console capabilities embedded within Unreal Engine, which proves to be a vital aspect motivating the switch.
Will Valorant Change with the Shift to UE5?
According to Donlan, the primary advantage of transitioning to UE5 lies in flexibility and the ability to adapt in various directions. Consequently, players shouldn’t anticipate any significant shifts in gameplay during the transition phase.
“I could not rattle off UE5 features that will transform Val as we know it,” Donlan conceded. Instead, the move is necessary to broaden the horizons and unlock new future possibilities.
Currently utilizing UE 4.27, the development team has maximized the potential of UE4, hence the shift to UE5.
“This upgrade is not going to significantly change how Val looks or performs, at least not in the immediate future. We have many developers who are eager about what UE5 can do for us moving ahead.”
“Maybe those developers are working on something I can’t talk about. Perhaps they’re exploring ways to expand the Val universe into new playable experiences.”
Hints of potential expansion into different genres or new games, or even new limited-time modes within Valorant, suggest that the transition to UE5 will grant developers more creative freedom.
Donlan’s discussion starts at the 1:28:21 mark in the video below.
In conclusion, players should not expect immediate improvements in how Valorant looks or plays as a result of the shift to UE5. While graphical enhancements may emerge in years to come, the current emphasis is on experimentation, allowing developers to explore new ideas to grow the IP.
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