How is VALORANT’s New Episode Holding Up?

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VALORANT episode 8 has been out for a week now. So, how are the new changes working out for players? Let’s find out.

Every new episode in VALORANT comes with a lot of new updates and changes. The purpose is to steer the prevailed game meta toward a new direction and keep the gameplay diverse. The new Episode 8 Act 1 is no exception. The number of changes, however, is proportionally lower than before.

Episode 8 Act 1 has been released on January 9, 2024. The main attraction is surely the addition of the new weapon, Outlaw, in the game. Moreover, the new patch 8.00 has brought back Icebox in the map pool, replacing Haven. However, the map has gone through some modifications before. The same is the case also for Lotus. Lastly, none of the agents, apart from Deadlock and Killjoy, have to go through any major changes.

In this article, we will take a look at how the new changes are keeping up and what the feedback from the community is.

Read More: Best VALORANT Agents to Pick on the New Icebox

How is Episode 8 in VALORANT Holding Up

Credit: tracker.gg

At the beginning of the new episode, the overall player count of VALORANT seems to be higher than usual. According to tracker.gg, the number of active players in VALORANT for the month of December was more than 17 Million. Now, just a week later, it has already reached up to 14 million. The number was at its peak just after the new episode’s release.

Deadlock’s Pick Rate Increasing

Credit: tracker.gg

Deadlock’s pick rate has been increased substantially. She has received buffs for almost all of her abilities. On the other hand, Killjoy has been nerfed a lot. As a result, people are trying Deadlock more. Her pick rate has seen an upward graph just after the act’s release.

Outlaw Receiving Mixed Impressions

Credit-Riot GAMes

The addition of a new gun into the arsenal probably was the most anticipated part of the new episode. Outlaw, however, has received mixed impressions from the community. While some think this is a fun gun to play, some players complain about how game-breaking its high damage output can be, especially against light shields.

New Episode is Not Free of Bugs

New updates give birth to new problems. VALORANT has always been facing bugs whenever any major updates are launched. Continuing the process, the new episode 8 has also been reported for various bugs. Like Raze’s satchel going to unusual places at Icebox or Yoru’s Gatecrash getting stuck suddenly. However, the bugs reported are minor and nothing game-breaking.

Wild new Raze bug on Icebox | #VALORANT
pic.twitter.com/aZKraFBpTu

— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) January 13, 2024

Final Thoughts

It has only been a week passed in the new Episode 8 of VALORANT. Players are still adapting to it. Although some dissatisfactions are seen with the bugs and changes, these are not anything that you should be worried about. So far, the new episode 8 of VALORANT is holding up with a combination of fresh changes and players making adjustments to it. As time progresses, it is certain to become familiar with.

Read More: All the VALORANT Premier Changes with Episode 8 Act 1

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