Valorant 7.07 Audio Bug Fix Guide and Patch 7.08 Preview

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Valorant Audio Bug Plagues Players

Valorant players recently encountered a frustrating audio bug in Patch 7.07 that caused them to lose games. The bug, caused by an in-game sound feature, clashed with specific PC settings, resulting in various audio issues that disrupted the gameplay experience for many users.

Valorant Audio Bug Description

The audio bug in Patch 7.07 manifested in different ways, causing annoyance and frustration among players. Some of the issues included:

  • Misdirection of Footsteps: Footsteps from other players were heard from the wrong direction, causing confusion in locating opponents.
  • Muffled Gunshots: The sounds of gunfire became muffled or distant, making it challenging to determine the proximity of gunfire in the game.
  • Distorted Voice Chat: Players experienced garbled and distorted voice chat, impairing effective communication among teammates.
  • Random Audio Dropouts: Unexpected audio dropouts occurred, disrupting the immersive gaming experience.
  • Inconsistent Audio Levels: Audio levels were either too loud or too soft, causing discomfort and affecting gameplay.

Why Is It Happening

The root cause of the audio bug in Patch 7.07 lies in Valorant’s built-in surround sound settings, specifically the Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF), and other surround sound virtualization software that players may have enabled on their computers.

If players had additional software like Dolby Atmos or Windows Sonic active on their system, Valorant would attempt to use both HRTF and the external software simultaneously, resulting in the audio problems. Developers are currently investigating how to fix this issue.

Valorant Audio Bug Fix

  • 1. Open the Windows Start menu and type “Change system sounds.”
  • 2. Click on “Change system sounds” to access your sound settings.
  • 3. Right-click on your active playback device in the Playback tab and select “Properties.”
  • 4. Go to the “Spatial sound” tab.
  • 5. Set the “Spatial sound format” to “Off.”
  • 6. Confirm your changes by clicking “OK.”

Disabling spatial sound on the playback device is the primary step to resolving the audio bug. Players should also turn off any built-in surround sound features in their headset software, if applicable, as these can also contribute to the issue. If the audio bug persists after turning off spatial sound, players can consider the following additional troubleshooting steps:

  • Restart Your Computer: A simple system reboot can sometimes clear lingering issues and ensure that the changes take full effect.
  • Update Audio Drivers: Outdated or incompatible audio drivers can lead to various audio problems. Players should visit the website of their sound card or motherboard manufacturer to download and install the latest audio drivers for their system.
  • Verify Game Files: Using Valorant’s launcher, players can verify the integrity of their Riot game files. This process checks for corrupted or missing files and replaces them as needed.
  • Repair Valorant: Players can initiate a repair process with the launcher to fix any potential issues within the game’s installation.
  • Reinstall Valorant: As a last resort, uninstalling and reinstalling Valorant ensures a clean installation, eliminating any lingering problems from previous installations.

Can You Disable Valorant’s HRTF?

For players who prefer to keep their computer’s spatial audio settings, disabling Valorant’s HRTF is an option. Turning off the Head-Related Transfer Function can potentially resolve the audio bug. Follow these steps:

  • 1. Open the Valorant settings menu.
  • 2. Click on the “Audio” tab.
  • 3. Under the “Head-Related Transfer Function” section, set the “HRTF” setting to “Off.”
  • 4. Click “OK” to save your changes.

When Will Patch 7.08 Arrive?

According to the Valorant patch schedule, Patch 7.08 is expected to release on October 23, 2023. However, this date is subject to change. Details about the upcoming patch are not yet available, but a fix for the Patch 7.07 audio bug is likely to be included. Speculations for Patch 7.08 changes include:

  • Map Changes: Adjustments to Valorant’s maps, such as fine-tuning the Dogtown map and enhancing existing maps with new covers or chokepoints.
  • Agent Balancing: Tweaks to the game’s agents, including buffs or nerfs to ensure a fair and competitive environment and addressing any bugs or exploits with specific agent abilities.
  • Weapon Adjustments: Possible changes to weapon power levels, recoil patterns, and damage values to refine the game’s mechanics.
  • Bug Squashing: The developers will continue to work on fixing various bugs to improve the gaming experience.

Until further announcements are made, players are encouraged to report any bugs they encounter, especially regarding the persistent audio bug.