When Does New Valorant Season Come Out?

VALORANT Season 26 Act 1 officially starts on January 7, 2025, in North and South America, and on January 8, 2025, in the rest of the world.The new season launches alongside Patch 12.0, marking the beginning of a major competitive and gameplay update cycle for Riot Games’ tactical shooter.

As with previous yearly transitions, the start of Season 26 signals a ranked reset, new content, and foundational system changes that will shape the game throughout the year.

Confirmed Start Date for Valorant Season 26 Act 1

Riot Games follows a staggered regional rollout for major seasonal updates. For Season 26 Act 1, the launch schedule is as follows:

• January 7, 2025 – North America & South America
• January 8, 2025 – Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world

This timing aligns with Riot’s standard patch deployment process and confirms the official beginning of the 2025 competitive year in VALORANT.

What Comes With the Start of Season 26?

The launch of Season 26 Act 1 is not just a calendar reset. Patch 12.0 introduces several impactful changes that define the direction of the game moving forward.

New Weapon: Bandit Pistol

Season 26 introduces the Bandit, a new pistol positioned between the Ghost and the Sheriff in both price and performance. It is capable of eliminating enemies with light armor using a single headshot, making it a strong option for pistol rounds and eco scenarios.

Riot describes this addition as part of a broader effort to refine gunplay and ensure each weapon fills a meaningful role in the overall arsenal.

Breeze Returns With a Full Rework

One of the biggest gameplay changes at the start of Season 26 is the return of Breeze to the competitive map pool. The map has been heavily redesigned to address long-standing community feedback.

Key improvements include:

• Reduced overly open spaces
• Better angle isolation
• Increased controller agent viability
• Preserved long-range combat identity

To ease the transition, rank rating losses are reduced by 50% for the first two weeks after Breeze re-enters competitive play.

New Game Mode Available at Season Launch

Players who prefer a more casual experience at the start of the season can jump into All Random One Site, a limited-time arcade mode launching with Season 26.

This mode features:

• Random agents every round
• Single-site combat
• Smaller, condensed maps
• Frequent ultimate usage

It offers fast-paced, unpredictable gameplay and serves as an alternative to ranked during the early days of the new act.

Ranked Reset and MMR Changes in Season 26

Season 26 Act 1 also introduces changes to VALORANT’s hidden MMR system. Riot aims to improve match quality by making individual skill representation more accurate.

Important points:

• Most players will remain close to their previous rank
• Some players may experience minor rank shifts
• Match consistency and balance are the primary goals

Rather than forcing dramatic resets, Riot focuses on long-term competitive stability.

Player Behavior Updates With the New Season

With Season 26, Riot tightens its stance on disruptive behavior. All players must accept an updated Community Pack, clearly outlining expectations for communication and sportsmanship.

New systems include:

• Stronger penalties for severe toxicity
• Improved detection of comms abuse
• Behavior Standing, allowing players to track their disciplinary risk

These changes are designed to improve overall match quality beyond matchmaking alone.