Introduction to Valorant Patch 11.06
After five years of player requests, Riot Games has delivered the much-anticipated Replay System in Valorant with patch 11.06, available immediately for PC players. This significant update also brings strong anti-cheat measures, including banning 40,000 bot accounts over six months, important bug fixes affecting agents like Yoru and Reyna, and enhanced input performance on PC. Console players will get the replay system in November with patch 11.10.
What the New Replay System Offers
The replay feature in Valorant patch 11.06 allows players to download and watch replays of their own matches from Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, and Premier modes. Players can:
- View the match from the first-person perspective of all ten players
- Switch to a third-person observer camera for a tactical overview
- Enable player outlines for teammates and enemies to analyze positioning
- Follow projectiles like Sova’s Recon Dart for better understanding of utilities
- Pause, fast-forward, slow down, and jump to key moments such as kills or ultimate abilities
- Access detailed HUD elements, minimap data, and combat reports while watching
The replay files are downloadable from the Match Details or Career pages and saved locally for later review. Riot promises that the replay system will not impact game performance, ensuring smooth gameplay on varying hardware.
The Major Catch: Replay Viewing Limitations
Despite the excitement, the replay system has a significant limitation: players can only watch replays of matches they personally participated in. This means:
- No ability to watch friends’ games or matches of other players for coaching or entertainment
- Professional VCT matches and esports games cannot be reviewed through the in-game system
- Sharing replay files with others is not supported
- Highlighting or sharing gameplay will still require external capture software
This restriction has drawn criticism from some fans who see it as a missed opportunity for enhancing player growth and community engagement. In contrast, other competitive games like Dota 2 allow free access to professional match replays for analysis and study.
Other Key Updates in Patch 11.06
Major Bot Ban
Riot has cracked down hard on bots, banning around 40,000 bot accounts over the past six months. This effort aims to reduce unfair play and improve matchmaking quality.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed a rare bug where Yoru and Reyna would reappear at their original position after using invisibility.
- Console players receive fixes for weapon and Spike highlighting bugs, with full resolution expected in patch 11.07.
PC Performance Enhancement
The RawInputBuffer setting, which reduces input lag by bypassing software layers and sending mouse input directly to the game, is now permanently enabled and no longer user-configurable. Riot states this enhances input responsiveness consistently for all players.
Pros and Cons of Valorant Patch 11.06
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Introduction of the highly requested Replay System | Replay only available for matches you personally played |
| Supports multiple game modes: Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, Premier | No access to pro match or friends’ replay files |
| Advanced replay controls: multi-perspective views, outlines, time control | Cannot share replays with others via game client |
| Significant bot bans improve game fairness | Console players must wait until November for replays |
| Important bug fixes enhancing gameplay stability | Some console weapon highlight bugs remain temporaril |
Final Thoughts
Valorant patch 11.06 marks a milestone with the introduction of replays, giving players powerful tools to review and improve their gameplay. While the feature currently limits viewing to personal matches only, it opens the door for frequent post-game analysis. Combined with bot bans and crucial bug fixes, this update strengthens Valorant’s position as a leading competitive shooter. Console players can look forward to this feature arriving in November, rounding out a robust competitive experience across platforms.
This update is sure to generate excitement and bring fresh engagement among Valorant’s player base and esports communities, though the replay feature’s restrictive scope may evolve with future patches based on player feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Valorant Patch 11.06 replay system?
The replay system allows players to download and watch recorded versions of their own Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, and Premier matches. Users can view the game from multiple player perspectives, use a third-person observer camera, and analyze key moments such as kills or ultimate abilities.
When will Valorant replays be available on consoles?
Replays are currently available on PC with patch 11.06. Console players will get access to the replay system in November 2025 with patch 11.10.
Can I watch replays of professional or esports matches?
No, replay viewing is limited to matches you personally played. Professional VCT matches and custom games replays are not supported at this time.
Will the replay system affect my game’s performance?
No, Riot Games has ensured that the replay feature runs independently and does not impact in-game performance or cause lag.
How do I access and download Valorant replays?
After a match, go to the Match Details page or the Career tab in the client, where you can download the replay file locally and watch it anytime.
Can I share replay files with other players or watch my friends’ games?
Currently, sharing replay files or watching games you did not play in is not possible within the Valorant client. External recording software is required for sharing gameplay highlights.
Does the replay system record voice chat or text chat?
No, voice and text communications during the match are not recorded or available in replays.
Are all game modes supported by the replay system?
Replays are supported for Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, and Premier modes. Custom games and tournament realms are not supported.
What bug fixes and improvements are included in patch 11.06 besides replays?
Patch 11.06 includes a large-scale bot ban affecting 40,000 accounts, fixes a rare invisibility-related bug with agents Yoru and Reyna, and improves PC input performance by enabling RawInputBuffer permanently.
