Riot Games has released Patch Notes and an update for Valorant Episode 9 Act 1. This is the first update after Valorant‘s release on consoles earlier this month. So, this patch brings a wide variety of updates to the game, including new content for both PC and console players.
For both versions, the developers have introduced new conversation voice lines between several agents including Phoenix, Harbor, Brimstone, Yoru, Raze, Iso, Sage, Neon, Gekko, Skye, Deadlock, Omen, Kayo, and Reyna. Let’s delve into more details about Valorant Episode 9 Act 1.
Valorant Episode 9 Act 1: All You Need to Know
Speaking of PC-specific updates, Iso’s gameplay has been tweaked to balance his abilities. The duration of Iso’s “Double Tap” buff has been reduced from 20 seconds to 12 seconds, and the signature kill reset has been removed. Iso can now only extend “Double Tap” by shooting the orbs that spawn while the buff is active.
Coming to Console-specific updates, there are a lot of changes and new features.
- Sova’s Owl Drone: Sova’s Owl Drone gets a health buff, increasing its survivability from 60 HP to 100 HP.
- Competitive Mode: The biggest news for console players is the introduction of Competitive Mode! You can now climb the ranks and compete for a spot on the Immortal Leaderboards. The initial map pool includes Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Haven, and Sunset, with more maps planned for future patches.
Gameplay System Updates
New Control Presets
A new “Controls Preset” screen now appears on the first boot-up, letting players choose between Valorant-specific or traditional console FPS controls, which can be customized anytime via the settings menu. To retain previous settings from Patch 08.11, players should enable the “Advanced Sensitivity Settings” option. Additionally, a new sensitivity slider is available for easy aim sensitivity adjustments.
Other Console Improvements: Several improvements have been made to the console experience, including better sound transitions, updated crosshair presets, and a new Aim Sensitivity slider for more precise control. Voice chat management and settings have also been revamped for easier use.
Zero Tolerance Text Chat
In an effort to maintain a positive gaming environment, PC players will see increased penalties for repeated use of zero-tolerance terms in text chat.
Premier Updates (PC-Only)
The Premier system gets an overhaul with the introduction of the “Invite Division.” Teams that performed well in previous stages can now compete in this new division, with the chance to earn a spot in the Challengers League. The update also details changes to rules and scoring for Contender and Invite Divisions.
Social Updates
Players can now add friends more efficiently by pasting or typing a full Riot ID (including tagline), which will automatically split into the “Riot ID” and “tagline” fields. For console players, the communications menu has been updated for easier management of team and party voice settings.
Bug Fixes
The patch addresses various bugs across agents, competitive systems, gameplay systems, and maps. Some notable fixes include resolving hitbox issues with Iso’s shield (PC) and Jett’s Tailwind ability (Console).
Known Issues
The update introduces a control lock issue when navigating surrender menus on consoles. Due to this, the Surrender and Remake functionalities are temporarily disabled. The developer team is working on a fix, and Draw remains functional.
For a complete list of changes and known issues, you can refer to the official Valorant patch notes.
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