Riot finally gives Valorant fans an update on the replay feature

Fariha Bhatti Published 20/12/2024

Players will be able to rewatch their trick shots, with Riot Games re-confirming that the Valorant replay system is coming and offering an update on when it will be revealed.

Valorant isn’t a new game at this point. With consistent updates to its arsenal, agents, and gameplay, Riot ensures that Valorant remains fresh and relevant. The ever-changing meta isn’t just driven by updates. It’s also connected directly with Valorant’s esports chain, which is why the lack of a replay system has always been a major issue for fans. In competitive games, replays are a base feature that allow teams to analyze their strats, review scrims, and develop counter-strategies against opponents. Valorant, however, was released without one. Four years later, it’s still not in the game.

While Riot has been talking about adding replay to Valorant since 2021, the developer has now confirmed that it’s actively under development.

Riot will reveal Valorant replay system in early 2025

Valorant’s replay system will be revealed during the first half of 2025, according to Valorant France.

In a Valorant France Q&A, developers addressed questions around the replay system, confirming that it is “indeed in preparation.” According to Riot, more information about the replay system will be revealed in the first half of 2025. That means the first look at the potentially finalized replay system is merely months away.

For those who can’t wait, an early prototype of the replay system is available, serving as proof that Riot is actively working on it. While the first look is riddled with bugs, it shows promise with a clean and user-friendly interface.

The replay screen in Valorant looks the same as a regular gaming screen with an added slider at the bottom. The UI includes simple controls like a rewind, POV switch, free camera, and so on. Casual players can use these features to capture their flashy moments while aspiring pros can analyze mistakes and refine their gameplay.

Visually, the prototype looks solid, but Riot Games has stated it’s not ready for release due to major bugginess. In a video showcasing the replay system, the developer highlighted clipping issues and new glitches in the environment caused by the feature’s addition.

Why does Valorant not have a replay system?

Riot has been trying to add a replay system to Valorant, but since the game is already live, testing it has been an issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHREYcS3RqU

In early 2024, Riot offered a transparent update on the replay system. The developer explained that the game was built with “gameplay logic and in-game assets around a multiplayer session” in real-time. Since replay scenarios weren’t considered at the time, adding the feature now presents a challenge.

Valorant is a live-service game with a stable esports system, which has made it tricky for them to test the feature, weed out bugs, and fix them. All of these challenges have led to a delay in the Valorant replay system’s launch.

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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