Valorant’s Mystbloom skins have stirred controversy among players due to an alleged unfair advantage they provide in the game. Released as part of an exclusive edition bundle on May 1, 2024, in Valorant Episode 8 Act 3, the Mystbloom skin set has raised concerns within the gaming community.
Players have discovered that the Mystbloom skins may offer an unintended advantage by allowing them to see their opponents through walls, a significant glitch that can impact gameplay dynamics in the competitive first-person shooter arena.
Renowned streamer and Sova lineup expert, Jonas “AverageJonas” Navarsete, highlighted this issue, revealing that inspecting a Mystbloom weapon during gameplay could potentially reveal enemy silhouettes or character outlines through walls when an opponent is in close proximity. This exploit effectively grants the user of the Mystbloom skins a substantial edge over their adversaries.
Reports indicate that this advantage is not confined to specific scenarios. Inspecting the weapon equipped with Mystbloom skins allows attackers to identify defenders hiding on the map, irrespective of whether the skin is applied to a Phantom, Sheriff, Judge, or Operator weapon.
Preeti Khanolkhar, Valorant’s Lead Producer for Cosmetic Content, acknowledged the issue following AverageJonas’ disclosure. Khanolkhar emphasized the development team’s commitment to addressing the problem promptly, stating, “You know we want to make cool skins, but pay-to-win isn’t acceptable or intentional. We didn’t catch this, but we appreciate the community’s help in identifying it.”
As a response to the situation, Riot Games’ development team is actively working on a solution and is expected to implement a fix in the near future. The Mystbloom bundle, which is currently available in Valorant’s in-game shop for 8,700 VP, has attracted attention for its unintended gameplay advantage.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining game balance and fairness in competitive gaming environments. Players and developers alike are encouraged to remain vigilant against potential exploits that could compromise the integrity of gameplay experiences.
