Riot Games has quietly updated the profile artwork for several Valorant agents – Gekko, Harbor, and Fade – sparking a heated debate across the community. The updated portraits were revealed in a post by Valorant Updated on X asking players: “Old VS New. Which do you prefer and why?”
While the refreshed art style brings a cleaner, more cohesive aesthetic to the agent lineup, many fans argue that the new look feels “soulless” compared to the originals.
What changed in the new artwork?
The new agent portraits appear more uniform, with all three characters – Gekko, Harbor, and Fade – shown facing slightly downward from a similar angle, rather than striking dynamic or expressive poses like before.
Critics say this stylistic choice sacrifices the unique personality that each agent’s artwork once had. The new visuals opt for smoother shading, softer tones, and a cleaner finish – likely to align with Riot’s updated art direction for Valorant’s evolving UI.
Fans react: “They lost their personality”
Thousands of Valorant players have shared their opinions on the redesigns, and the community is deeply divided. Many prefer the old portraits for their expressiveness and individuality, while others appreciate the cleaner look of the new ones.
User @klxnQT wrote:
“Now everyone has the same pose. Everyone has the right side of their face showing, looking down. Gekko and Harbor used to show confidence and swag. The old ones had personality — now they all look copied.”
Streamer @skyriakou agreed, adding:
“Old Gekko and Fade, new Harbor.”
Meanwhile, @alexzinvlr joked that the redesigns looked overly polished:
“Dream face reveal ahh, give the old ones dawg.”
Another player, @GenPeej, criticized the new portraits’ lack of depth:
“Old looks way better. The new ones look meh — generic, like there’s no personality behind them. Like NPCs.”
Still, not everyone was against the changes. Some players praised the refined visuals and modernized tone:
“Old Harbor had charm, old Fade looked menacing, new Gekko feels like Eminem — and I like that,” said @n1ghtdev.
“I think Fade’s old icon was better, but the update for Gekko and Harbor makes them look less chopped,” added @ilybtw.
Fade’s redesign draws mixed reviews
Fade’s new portrait, in particular, became a lightning rod for criticism. Many noted that her heterochromia (two different-colored eyes) — one of her signature visual traits — is less visible in the updated design.
User @peperoni pointed out:
“The old Fade icon hides the heterochromia and has a hairstyle that doesn’t match the one in-game. Anyone who says they prefer it has bad taste.”
Others simply preferred the darker, more intimidating vibe of her original portrait. As @ak4meval wrote:
“Old Fade looks way more intimidating and cleaner.”
Gekko and Harbor updates received mixed praise
While Fade’s redesign divided players, Gekko and Harbor’s new portraits received slightly warmer reception — particularly Harbor’s. Some felt the controller agent’s updated art finally matched his calm and confident personality.
“Old Fade + Old Harbor but new Gekko is PEAK,” wrote @CraftedGaming.
“Gekko’s new art is better, but the old angle had more personality,” commented @krixas_dragon.
Still, others argued that the unified angle for all three agents made the cast feel less distinct:
“Old Gekko had spunk and old Fade looked cool. New ones feel kinda generic — there’s no character behind their icons,” said @EricRam7956.
The community conclusion
Based on hundreds of replies, the general sentiment seems to lean toward the old artwork being more expressive and memorable, while the new portraits feel polished but less personal.
Most fans seem to prefer a mix – old Fade and Gekko, but new Harbor stands out as the best improvement of the trio.
Regardless of preference, this discussion highlights how much Valorant’s art direction influences player perception. For many, these character portraits aren’t just icons – they’re visual representations of identity and personality.
Source: Valorant Updated on X
