Valorant’s latest update, Patch 9.03, delivers a host of gameplay refinements, focusing on enhancing interactions and ground-spreading abilities. Notably, this update introduces the popular map Pearl to console players, broadening the game’s strategic possibilities.

As Riot Games continues to fine-tune the tactical shooter, these changes ensure a dynamic and balanced experience for both PC and console players.

Highlights

• Valorant”s Update 9.03 focuses on refining gameplay and introduces the new map Pearl to console players.
• Regular updates for Valorant ensure a dynamic gaming experience with new content and gameplay tweaks.
• Patch 9.03 brings improvements to interactions, ground-spreading abilities, and map-targeted abilities for PC and console players.

Valorant”s Update 9.03 has been officially revealed, bringing a series of significant adjustments to gameplay, particularly focusing on ground-spreading and map-targeted abilities. Additionally, this Valorant update introduces the map Pearl to console players for the first time, expanding the game”s reach and providing new opportunities for strategic play.

Valorant, developed by Riot Games, is a tactical first-person shooter that was officially launched on June 2, 2020, after a highly successful beta phase. The game quickly gained prominence in the competitive gaming scene, thanks to its blend of precise gunplay and unique character abilities, appealing to both casual and professional players. A key factor in Valorant”s continued success is its regular updates, which consistently introduce new content and gameplay tweaks. Valorant is organized into Episodes and Acts, with each Episode bringing significant changes, such as new agents, maps, and mechanics, ensuring a dynamic and evolving experience for its player base.

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In addition to major updates, Valorant receives minor patches focused on enhancing quality of life, balancing, and bug fixes. The latest, patch 9.03, includes several refinements. One significant improvement addresses interactions with overlapping objects, making actions like attaching to ropes more reliable even when obstructed by other elements, such as Cypher’s Spycam darts. Adjustments have also been made to the ground-spreading abilities of Valorant”s agents, like Brimstone’s Incendiary and Viper”s Snakebite, to ensure their effects spread more consistently and align with their visual indicators. Moreover, map-targeted abilities now feature additional icons on the minimap, enhancing targeting accuracy for abilities such as Brimstone’s Sky Smoke and Omen’s From The Shadows.

Valorant”s Latest Patch Delivers PC and Console-Specific Fixes

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The patch also brings targeted fixes for both PC and console players. On PC, a bug where players needed to hold [Tab] during the pre-round to enable the cursor has been fixed. Console Valorant players will find that the map Pearl has been added to the Unrated and Swift Play queues, broadening their gameplay options. The update also addresses several bugs, including one where pressing an Ability button while defusing the Spike would equip a weapon and another where opening the Ability map and Shop/Scoreboard simultaneously could result in a loss of input.

Additionally, the patch includes several other bug fixes across all platforms, aimed at improving overall stability and enhancing the gameplay experience. With the competitive landscape of the hero shooter genre becoming increasingly challenging this year, these updates are crucial for maintaining Valorant”s position and ensuring a high-quality experience for its player base.

Valorant Update 9.03 Patch Notes

ALL PLATFORMS

GENERAL UPDATES

• Made improvements to how overlapping interactable objects work. You should now perform the desired action more consistently.
  • For Example: A dart from Cypher’s Spycam should no longer prevent you from attaching to a rope if you’re directly looking at it.

AGENT UPDATES

• Ground Spreading Abilities
  • We”re making improvements to abilities that spread along the ground like Brimstone’s Incendiary and Viper”s Snakebite. Previously, these abilities had inconsistent effects depending on the exact location they landed, ranging from extremely different sizes or damaging through walls and in areas the ability wasn’t visually present. With this update, these abilities should spread more consistently and only apply damage in places that are consistent with the visuals.
• Map Targeted Abilities Improvements
  • You can now ping and see additional icons on maps used for ability targeting
    • Affected abilities: Brimstone’s Sky Smoke and Orbital Strike, Clove’s Ruse, and Omen’s From The Shadows
• Sage’s Barrier Orb
  • Barrier Orb’s placement preview now also shows up on the minimap

PERFORMANCE UPDATES

• Improved the performance of Iso’s Kill Contract ability.

BUG FIXES

General

• Fixed issue where opening menus would reset your toggle crouch / toggle walk state.

Gameplay Systems

• Fixed a bug where pinging guns on the ground was not displaying the gun”s name in the text feed.
• Fixed a rare bug that resulted in the defuse timer showing up as ‘-00.00’ if the Spike was defused as the round timer hit 0.
• Fixed an issue with Ability icons not appearing on the minimap as an Observer.
• Fixed an issue where in certain scenarios, you can see an enemy but they don’t appear on the minimap.
• Fixed an issue where “DAMAGE TO YOU/YOU DEALT” is overlapping the Combat Report widget.
• Fixed font size readability issues with Combat Report in certain languages.
• Fixed an issue with auto re-scoping for Outlaw, Marshall, Operator staying active while the gun goes through a reload.

Maps

• Abyss
  • Fixed a spot in Mid Library where thrown abilities can clip through the shelves into gameplay space.
  • Fixed a spot where Agent utility could be thrown off the map and used as a platform.
  • Revised the message from the Scions of the Hourglass to fix text errors.
  • Fixed a minor visual issue for the railings around Defender Spawn.
• The Range
  • Fixed a bug where certain words in the Range were not being translated correctly into various languages.

PC

BUG FIXES

Client

• Combat Report
  • Fixed a bug where during pre-round, [Tab] must be held down while pressing the cursor toggle button to enable the cursor.

CONSOLE

MAP UPDATES

• Pearl enters Unrated & Swift Play queues.

KNOWN ISSUES

General

• Fixed issue where opening an Ability map and the Shop/Scoreboard simultaneously could result in a loss of input.
• Fixed an issue where pressing an Ability button while defusing the Spike would equip a weapon.

Agents

• Harbor
  • Fixed an issue where Harbor’s High Tide wall would end prematurely.

Valorant

VALORANT is a character-based 5v5 tactical shooter set on the global stage. Outwit, outplay, and outshine your competition with tactical abilities, precise gunplay, and adaptive teamwork.

Shooter

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:
81/100


Critics Recommend:
85%

Platform(s)

PC
, PlayStation 5
, Xbox Series X
, Xbox Series S

Released
June 2, 2020

Developer(s)

Riot Games

Publisher(s)

Riot Games

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Language, ViolenceExpand

See at Official Site

See at Playstation Store

See at Xbox Games Store