VALORANT Patch 11.06 Introduces a Replay Feature, Fulfilling Longstanding Player Requests

VALORANT Patch 11.06 introduces the long-anticipated Replay feature, allowing players to review their games without the use of external recording software. However, there are a few important points to keep in mind.

Starting from September 16, players will have the ability to «replay» their VALORANT matches, observing the gameplay from any of the ten players’ first-person viewpoints, or utilizing a third-person free camera. Users can adjust the playback speed, including fast-forwarding, slowing down, or pausing to analyze the actions effectively.

While the Replay feature is launching for VALORANT on PC today, console players and those in China will have to wait a bit longer. Here are the specific timings:

PC: Available starting with Patch 11.06 on September 16 at 1am PT, or September 17 for certain regions.
China: Set to begin with Patch 11.07b on October 9, local time.
Console: Expected to launch with Patch 11.10 on November 11 at 11am PT, or November 12 for certain regions.

Unlike basic recordings, the Replay feature is meant for in-depth gameplay analysis, allowing players to reflect on their mistakes and identify strengths. It also offers a way to demonstrate if a player was intentionally sabotaging the match, although proving instances of cheating may be challenging due to variations in «client and server ping.»

Despite its appealing functionalities, VALORANT’s Replay system currently lacks options for sharing or editing clips. It is strictly a view-only feature accessible only through the game client; recordings cannot be downloaded to your device. There is a possibility that sharing capabilities may be added in the future, but no details have been confirmed at this time.

If you’re a content creator or enjoy saving your impressive multi-kill rounds, you’ll need to rely on a third-party tool for the time being. The Replay feature is not available in Custom games and is limited to Unrated, Competitive, Swiftplay, and Premier modes. Additionally, it can only be used for matches from the current live patch, not for older versions. Players can access Replays through the post-match details or Career page by clicking on the play button icon.

While the Replay function has finally made its debut in VALORANT after much anticipation, players are likely hoping for further enhancements, such as clip sharing, the ability to replay Custom games, and esports VODs. Nonetheless, it already provides valuable tools to assist dedicated ranked players in gaining insights into their performance. The feature notably simplifies the process of collecting evidence against disruptive players, reinforcing efforts to combat negative behavior in the game.