Riot Games disabled Neon in VALORANT on May 6, 2026 after a Fast Lane exploit surfaced, and the agent will stay out of the game until Patch 12.09 arrives.
The problem centers on Fast Lane, Neon’s wall ability that sends out two electrified barriers as she pushes forward. Riot said in a post on X that it found a graphics exploit tied to that ability and moved to protect competitive integrity.
It’s happening. pic.twitter.com/Qzlc0QcuEp
— VALORANT (@VALORANT) May 7, 2026
Riot also said it has already been working on Neon balance adjustments, and those changes will arrive with the exploit fix when the agent returns.
Patch 12.09 is likely to land between May 12 and May 14, based on the game’s usual cadence after Patch 12.08 released on April 29. Until then, Neon mains will have to pick a different duelist.
Patch 12.09 should bring Neon back with the exploit fix and the planned balance pass. Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
Valorant
Developed by Riot Games
Valorant is a character-based 5v5 tactical shooter set on the global stage. Outwit, outplay, and outshine your competition with tactical abilities, precise gunplay, and adaptive teamwork.
- Genre: Shooter, Tactical
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Multiplayer
- Release: 2020-06-02
- Publisher: Riot Games
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Age Rating:
ESRB T / CLASS_IND 14 / ACB M / USK 16 / GRAC 15+ / PEGI 16
- IGDB Rating: 71.7/100
