Player Behavior, Balance, and Anti-Cheat // Dev Updates - VALORANT

Summary

The video celebrates EDG's victory at the Champions Grand Finals in Seoul, highlighting the competitive spirit and community engagement. It discusses upcoming changes in VALORANT, including balance adjustments for agents like Phoenix and Sage, and map rotations with Icebox and Lotus out, Split and Pearl back in. The Anti-Cheat team shares updates on Vanguard's effectiveness and introduces ranked rollbacks to counter cheating. Player behavior improvements and rank distribution adjustments are also addressed, with a look ahead to the Game Changers Championship and the new VCT Season.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Congratulations to EDG for winning the World Championship in Seoul, showcasing a highly competitive final-four bracket.
• 🌐 The esports community gathered in Seoul, the birthplace of esports, celebrating the game and meeting players.
• 🎮 VALORANT launched on console last month, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive with millions of new players.
• 🔄 The year-end patches are an opportunity for significant balance adjustments without disrupting professional play.
• 🎖️ Recent updates to Iso, Neon, Reyna, and Raze have contributed to a healthier Duelist ecosystem.
• 🔥 Phoenix is still under development, and the team is considering changes to other agents, especially weaker Sentinels and Controllers.
• 🌟 Vyse will be joining the roster soon, and her performance will be closely monitored post-release.
• 🔧 Patch 9.05 introduced changes to Astra, Chamber, and the Ares, aiming to improve their utility and viability.
• 🗺️ The map rotation for 9.08 will see Icebox and Lotus removed, with Split and Pearl returning, and adjustments to Sunset's B Site.
• 🛡️ Vanguard, VALORANT's anti-cheat system, is effective with only 1% of games affected by cheaters, and improvements continue for console platforms.

Q & A

What team won the Champions Grand Finals in Seoul?

EDG won the Champions Grand Finals in Seoul.

What was the reaction from the crowd during the finals?

The energy from the Korean crowd was incredible, and it was special to see the community come together in the birthplace of esports.

What updates can be expected with VALORANT's year-end patches?

Year-end patches will include larger scope changes to improve game balance, particularly adjustments to Duelist agents, Sentinels, and Controllers.

What balance adjustments were made in Patch 9.05?

Patch 9.05 introduced changes to Astra and Chamber. Astra's utility output was improved, and Chamber's ability to defend territory and retreat was enhanced. Additionally, the Ares weapon received a buff to improve viability.

What new agent will join the VALORANT roster soon?

Vyse will be joining the VALORANT roster shortly after the release of this video.

What map changes were introduced in Patch 9.08?

Icebox and Lotus were removed from the map rotation, while Split and Pearl returned. Sunset received changes to B Site and Mid, with adjustments to improve defender options and post-plant gameplay.

What steps is VALORANT taking to combat cheating, especially with the game’s recent console release?

VALORANT uses the Vanguard anti-cheat system, which has been adapted for console to combat new types of cheats, such as input spoofing. VALORANT also plans to introduce ranked rollbacks to refund RR lost due to cheaters.

What changes were made regarding player behavior penalties?

Penalties for communication abuse have been increased, and hardware bans are now issued for severe behavior violations. The game is also expanding its automated voice evaluation globally.

What rank reset adjustments have been made for console players?

After observing that players were climbing ranks too quickly, VALORANT reset the rank distribution for console players. Going forward, console and PC ranks will reset on the same cadence.

What major events and updates can VALORANT players expect in the coming months?

Players can look forward to the Game Changers Championship in November, the new VCT season in January, and updates in 2025 to celebrate VALORANT’s 5th anniversary.