Countdown to Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 Release Date

As we approach the release of the new act, now is an ideal moment for a countdown to the launch of Valorant Episode 9 Act 3. While this upcoming act is not expected to introduce major changes, players are eager for the reworks and updates to the map pool. Do note that access to the new act will not be immediate; there will be a brief downtime of several hours as Riot Games schedules maintenance for the Valorant servers.

Furthermore, during this maintenance, the competitive queue will be unavailable until players have had the chance to download and install the latest update. Since each region will have a localized launch for the new act, this guide will detail the Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 release countdown, using Indian Standard Time (IST) as a benchmark.

Countdown to Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 Release and Additional Information

Here are the regional timings for the Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 release on October 23, 2024:

United States (West): 6 am PT
United States (East): 9 am ET
Brazil: 10 am UTC-3

And for the Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 release on October 24, 2024:

United Kingdom: 4 am BST
Europe: 5 am CEST
India: 2:30 am IST
China: 5 am CST [tentative]
South Korea: 6 am KST
Japan: 6 am JST

What’s Included in the New Valorant Episode 9 Act 3

Last opportunity to obtain a Battle Pass before Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 (Image via Riot Games)

The most recent addition to the Valorant roster was the Sentinel agent, Vyse. This forthcoming update will not feature any new agents or maps. However, players can look forward to the following competitive map pool:

Abyss
Ascent
Bind
Haven
Pearl
Split
Sunset

Significant changes are set to be made to both the mid and B-site on the Sunset map. In addition, players will have the chance to explore two new skin bundles: Doombringer and Arcane Season 2.

A fresh battle pass is also on the way, which will include a teaser for the next agent set to be introduced. This battle pass will showcase numerous static skins and additional items such as Sprays, Titles, Gun Buddies, player cards, and more. Notably, a new knife will be exclusive to this new battle pass.

Though some maps might not be accessible in competitive modes, players will still have the opportunity to enjoy them in alternative game modes, including Swiftplay, Unrated, Escalation, and Spike Rush.

End of Episode 9 Act 2 Competitive Queue Timings

Upcoming changes to the competitive map pool in the next Valorant update (Image via Riot Games)

For regions where the competitive queue will conclude on October 23, 2024:

United States (West): 4:30 am PDT
United States (East): 7:30 am EDT
Brazil: 8:30 am UTC-3

For regions where the competitive queue will conclude on October 24, 2024:

United Kingdom: 2:30 am BST
Europe: 3:30 am CEST
India: 1 at IST
China: 3:30 am CST [Tentative]
South Korea: 4:30 am KST
Japan: 4:30 am JST

Players should anticipate a few hours of server downtime as Riot Games prepares for maintenance. Following this, gamers will be able to dive into Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 and all the exciting new content it brings.

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