Why was the VALORANT headshot banner removed?

Riot Games chops and changes VALORANT constantly. There’s always a new update that throws a spanner into the works, fixing issues, or even simply changing the weapons in the store. 

While you’re playing competitive matches, you’ll be inundated with constant pop-ups. Each bombardment gives you details about what’s happened in a particular round. For instance, winning an all-important one-on-two will prompt the undeniably rewarding “Clutch” text up the top of your screen.

But one piece of UI was recently removed, and here’s why. 

Why did Riot remove the VALORANT headshot banner?

The headshot banner appeared whenever an opponent was shot between the eyes. It was removed mid-way through March 2023, and while some players dream of its return, the VALORANT devs believed the headshot message was already sent.

Players receive multiple notifications, showcasing that a player had been headshot. There’s the “dink” that comes when players get domed, and also in the kill feed. The devs believe the headshot text just felt extra without adding more value. This notification cluttered the screen, they added, which is detrimental in a game where visual clarity is key.

The last thing players want is to miss an easy kill because the screen was filled with unnecessary information.

The headshot notification change is a relatively minor adjustment. For the majority of their larger-scale updates, the Riot devs like to test it out first.

This is where the VALORANT PBE servers come into play. These last a few days, giving players the chance to try and break VALORANT’s updates before they arrive.