TL;DR
- Riot will ban players with active chat/voice restrictions from ranked matches within 2-3 patches
- The current 72-hour communication ban system created new competitive integrity issues
- Developers acknowledge the unfairness of matching restricted players in competitive queues
- Additional anti-toxicity measures and enhanced penalty systems are in development
- These changes aim to preserve teamwork quality while maintaining player comfort options
Valorant’s development team has responded to mounting player frustration regarding competitive match integrity. Many competitors expressed concerns about being paired with teammates who cannot participate in voice or text communications due to existing restrictions.
Senior producer Ian “Brighteyz” Fielding confirmed that Riot Games is addressing this critical gameplay issue. The studio recognizes that allowing communication-restricted individuals into ranked matches undermines the competitive experience for everyone involved.
Fielding detailed the implementation timeline, noting that players with active chat and voice limitations will be excluded from ranked matchmaking queues. This significant policy change is scheduled for deployment within the next two to three game updates.
The technical infrastructure supporting this exclusion system requires additional development time. Fielding acknowledged the delay exceeds initial projections but emphasized the development team’s commitment to delivering a robust solution.
“While we don’t want to mandate voice communication usage in ranked play—recognizing some players have legitimate reasons for avoiding voice chat—we acknowledge the competitive disadvantage created by pairing teams with players who have demonstrated disruptive behavior patterns,” Fielding explained.
This nuanced approach demonstrates Riot’s understanding that communication preferences vary, while maintaining competitive fairness as the paramount concern.
Players subject to communication limitations will face ranked queue bans throughout their penalty duration. However, this represents just the initial phase of Riot’s comprehensive strategy.
Development teams are preparing additional communication-focused enhancements for release in coming months. These improvements will target disruptive behavior reduction while strengthening the overall penalty infrastructure.
No more ranked for toxic
#VALORANT
players!Riot is implementing a new penalty system, banning players with “chat and voice restrictions” from playing ranked “in the next two to three patches.”
pic.twitter.com/vDA16K6UW4— Valorant News (@ValorantUpdates)
January 22, 2021
Valorant looks to address toxic players, voice and chat bans
Riot’s developers have been evaluating optimal approaches for handling toxic behavior in competitive environments. The initial solution involved 72-hour communication suspensions for players found abusing voice or text channels.
According to Valorant’s Community Code standards, specific phrases and terminology demonstrating negative attitudes or insulting content trigger automated detection systems. Identification of prohibited language results in immediate communication restrictions.
While initially welcomed as relief from toxic commentary and disruptive screaming, players soon discovered an unintended consequence. The matchmaking system continued pairing communication-restricted players with regular competitors, creating coordination challenges.
This situation proved particularly frustrating during critical moments requiring precise teamwork and strategic execution. The Valorant community collectively determined that players demonstrating repeated toxic behavior should face complete competitive match exclusions.
Future game updates will target this specific issue alongside other problems generated by toxic ranked participants. These enhancements aim to preserve the competitive integrity that serious players expect from Valorant’s ranked experience.
Action Checklist
- Report toxic players using the in-game reporting system with specific behavior descriptions
- Review Valorant’s Community Code to understand prohibited communication patterns
- Utilize ping systems and text chat alternatives when voice communication isn’t preferred
- Monitor patch notes for implementation updates regarding ranked restriction systems
- Provide constructive feedback to Riot about the new system’s effectiveness post-implementation
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