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Less disk space and big possibilities for the future
Riot Games has made a major technical leap! Valorant is now officially running on Unreal Engine 5.3.
While players may not immediately notice drastic visual changes, this transition brings slight performance improvements, more stable operation and, most interestingly, half the installation size on disk.
Valorant Technical Lead, Marcus Reid, said that the game "looks, feels and plays identically to before", with the possibility of running faster on certain systems. However, as is often the case with such major technical changes, some players report occasional micro-stops and "freeze" moments.
What does this mean for the future of the game?
The move to Unreal Engine 5 opens the door to advanced tools like Nanite, Lumen and Temporal Super Resolution, which will enable more realistic graphics, more efficient lighting and optimized performance in high resolution.
This is also a key step towards new functions - among which is the long-awaited replay system, planned for release in September 2025.
Benefits for players now
After this update, installing Valorant takes up twice as much disk space.
The update itself was quite large (between 21–30 GB), but it was a one-time burden due to the engine change.
To mark the transition, players can also download a special “Hot New Engine” gun buddy, a little souvenir for all technology lovers.
The move to Unreal Engine 5.3 for Valorant is a strategic move that, while not fundamentally changing the current look and feel of the game, provides a more stable foundation for future visual and technical improvements. For players, this means better performance, optimized disk space and a sure sign that Riot Games is planning long-term development of this popular shooter.
