When Does Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 Competitive Queue End?

The competitive queue for Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 will end on January 7, 2025, for players in the Americas regions, and on January 8, 2025, for other regions. This end date aligns with the conclusion of the Act and Episode itself.

End Dates and Times by Region

• US (West): 6 am PT (January 7, 2025)
• US (East): 9 am ET (January 7, 2025)
• Brazil: 10 am UTC-3 (January 7, 2025)
• UK: 4 am BST (January 8, 2025)
• Europe (Paris, Berlin, etc.): 5 am CEST (January 8, 2025)
• India: 2:30 am IST (January 8, 2025)
• China (Beijing): 5 am CST (January 8, 2025) [tentative]
• Korea and Japan: 6 am KST/JST (January 8, 2025)

What to Expect

When the competitive queue ends, players’ ranks will not be affected after this time limit. Here’s what you can expect:

• Server Maintenance: The servers will go offline for maintenance, lasting about two to three hours. During this time, players may face crashes or glitches and won’t be able to log into Valorant.
• Other Game Modes: Players may still be able to queue for other game modes like Deathmatch, Unrated, or Team Deathmatch for a short period before the servers go offline.
• Rank Reset: With the start of Episode 10 Act 1, players will experience a rank reset and will need to play five competitive matches to uncover their new rank.

New Content in Episode 10 Act 1

The upcoming episode will introduce several exciting changes:

• New Agent: Tejo, a new Initiator agent, will be introduced.
• Battlepass: A brand new battlepass will be available.
• Map Changes: Expect changes to the competitive map pool.
• Balance Adjustments: Various balance adjustments will be made to the game.

Additional Insights for the New Season

As Valorant transitions into Episode 10 Act 1, here are some additional key points to look forward to:

New Features and Updates

• Rank Armor: Players will have a buffer of games to prevent immediate rank drops, offering more stability during the season.
• Rank Resets: Ranks will reset at the start of the season and at a mid-season point, allowing for better calibration as the player base evolves.
• Cheat Rollbacks: A rollback system will restore rank rating (RR) lost in matches with banned cheaters, enhancing competitive integrity.

Competitive Evolution

• The competitive landscape is evolving with significant updates designed to enhance the player experience. This includes new tools to address player behavior and changes to the ranked system.

New Agents and Events

• In 2025, two new agents will be introduced, adding fresh strategies and gameplay dynamics.
• Exciting events like the Valorant Champions Tour will continue to bring thrilling moments for players and fans alike.

By understanding these changes, players can prepare for a new and improved Valorant experience as the game enters its fifth year. The updates aim to elevate core gameplay elements, ensure a tactical and skill-driven experience, and enhance the overall competitive integrity of the game.