Riot's new approach to Valorant updates comes in patch 1.12

Olivia Richman Published 12/11/2020

After the problematic release of patch 1.11, Riot is taking a new approach to game updates. 

“Patch 1.11 is forcing us to reevaluate what it takes to raise the quality bar for patch days going forward. So, while we’re not skipping Patch 1.12, we’re giving it a light touch,” comms associate Jeff Landa explained. 

Landa also noted that they will be skipping the next patch cycle. This means patches will return once the First Strike qualifiers are complete. Developers noted earlier that they had to slow down patches because they were disruptive to the competitive integrity of the game’s tournaments. 

The next Valorant update will arrive on December 8.

What is included in Valorant patch 1.12?

It only makes sense that the biggest changes in Patch 1.12 involve competitive integrity heading into the biggest Valorant esports competitions of the year. Observers no longer hear ping audio and have improved sightline visibility in well-lit areas. Developers also added a game state modification cheat to allow moderators to adjust various aspects of the game, including player stats and money, while in a tournament setting. 

The other competitive change was a rollback that fixed team colors. This was previously changed in patch 1.11, causing confusion as viewers thought red meant offense and green meant defense. Riot also fixed a few bugs that caused certain UI elements to display in the incorrect color. 

“We plan to bring this feature back in the future when we finish adding support for custom team colors,” Landa said. 

The patch added a new user interface for custom game observers during character select. 

When it comes to bugs, 1.12 fixed an overlapping observer UI when a player is planting or defusing a spike. A rare issue that caused camera transition visuals to get stuck when swapping between player views was also fixed. 

Other bugs included: 

• A bug that caused players to disconnect from a custom game, resulting in a VAL-51 error
• A bug in the end-of-game screen after a match on Icebox that would display Haven’s map instead, incorrectly displaying timeline markers
• An issue where players could target mid-air weapons with some of their abilities
• A bug that displayed incorrect team colors on minimap pings

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

View full profile

Read Also

Kick

Here’s a Rundown of the Major New Features and Improvements on Kick in August 2026 Khizar Mundia Kick Director Ethan Wright has shared several new features that were introduced on the platform in August, also revealing that the team will continue to “push out great updates after great updates”. Livestreaming platform Kick is serious about introducing new features and making changes to improve the experience for both streamers and viewers. The Kick GO Live mobile app may be the standout addition the livestreaming platform has made in ...

Twitch

xQc Talks Subathons and Reveals Why He Avoids Them Khizar Mundia Félix “xQc” Lengyel is a major force in the streaming world, with his earnings being among the highest in the industry. However, despite this success, xQc has never done subathons — and the Kick streamer has revealed his reasons. Subathons have become an important element in the streaming world, as they are both engaging for viewers and beneficial for creators. Kai Cenat is arguably the most famous streamer who made ...

News

Here Is Every Major Announcement at Sony’s September State of Play Zachary Roberts The latest Sony State of Play was on September 3 at 9 am ET, and as usual, plenty of interesting games were announced and shown off. These, like a Nintendo Direct or Xbox Showcase, always end up being one of the most exciting times of the year for gamers. PlayStation often has great exclusives, so it's always worth seeing what they're working on. Interestingly enough, the first showcase wasn't game-related. ...

Kick

Kick Joins GTA RP Trend — Here’s What Partnership With Prodigy Entails Khizar Mundia The GTA RP community has been consistently growing, and Kick has just partnered with Prodigy, which displays the livestreaming platform’s interest in the scene. Here’s information about the partnership and why Kick may have entered the GTA RP scene right now. Kick has been trying to expand its esports base for some time, and its recent partnership with Riot Games has created ample opportunity for the platform. However, gaming remains ...

Slots

True Labs Set To Change Direction With New CEO Ben Boland True Labs started life as an experimental crypto casino in 2018 within the True Flip Group and has since evolved into an independent entity, boasting more than 40 crypto casino games and a network of supporting partners. Its evolution is set to continue with the appointment of a new CEO on September 1, 2026, with Sergey Glamazda confirmed as the Malta-based company’s new chief executive. Before joining True Labs, Glamazda ...

GTA

Rockstar Backs NoPixel V — What GTA 6 Means for GTA RP Khizar Mundia GTA 6 is about to release, and Rockstar has decided that it is the optimal time to announce that its collaborative GTA RP, NoPixel V, is about to enter closed beta. Roleplaying has been a major element in GTA, with several gaming streamers building their entire brand and community around it. NoPixel Studios is one of the most famous names in GTA RP, and NoPixel V is the newest version, ...

News

Kevin Hart Set To Host Major Pragmatic Play Live Casino Event Ben Boland Kevin Hart is joining forces with Pragmatic Play to host a live casino event that looks set to pack a serious punch. Hart is famed for starring in blockbusters such as Jumanji and Ride Along, and also as a stand-up comedian who has delivered his uniquely comic observations to audiences around the world. He will now act live dealer host for a packed two-day event in November. Pragmatic Play is ...