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In a scathing critique of Valorant’s recent 7.08 update, former pro player Tarik ‘tarik’ Celik expressed his strong disapproval, arguing that Riot Games seems intent on diluting the skill factor in the game. The latest patch, which saw significant changes to the smoke, has sparked contentious feedback, especially from professional players.
An Audible and Visual Cue Sparks Controversy
Tarik, a Twitch streamer and ex-Counter-Strike professional, was particularly vocal about the modifications made to the smoke abilities of Agents like Astra, Brimstone, and Omen. With the new update, these smokes now give off an audio and visual alert for 1.5 seconds before they vanish. While streaming on the day of the update’s release, Tarik voiced his apparent dissatisfaction after experiencing the new feature firsthand.
“It tells you before it drops, I hate these people, I hate them so much. Oh my god, they’re taking every level of skill out of the game and throwing it in the garbage,” he lamented. His fears for the game’s future direction were evident as he further speculated, “The Judge is going to be buffed, the Op’s going to be nerfed. I already foresee the future,” Tarik added.
Expressing his frustration, Tarik continued, “They are just making it friendlier for your average Twitch chatter, and I am not here to play with your average Twitch chatter! I am trying to play with the best, goddammit.”
His passionate plea didn’t stop there. In a direct callout, he exclaimed, “This is a terrible update man, who’s coming up with this sht! Let me talk to John at Riot, what the fck are we cooking!?”
Tarik’s sentiments echo a broader concern within the community, where many feel that continuous updates simplify the game for the casual player. As discussions surrounding the 7.08 update continue, there’s buzz about a potential leak of a new Valorant Duelist Agent. Only time will reveal how these changes and the potential new agent will impact the Valorant gaming landscape.
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