Since Recon Bolt was launched, instalocking has been a problem. Now Riot has drawn the consequences of it.
If you weren't aware, there was an app available for purchase/download that could rapidly lock in your desired Agent. This application outperformed any human in terms of speed, which prompted Riot to intervene and address the problem.
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Riot Takes Action Against Valorant Instalock App
Now that it has been officially acknowledged, we can openly discuss it. The app named Recon Bolt was responsible for the numerous instances of instant character selection that surpassed human capabilities in terms of speed.
Initially developed by "Dunskus" as a means for players to track their rank changes, the app evolved over time to provide additional functionalities, including agent instalocking.
goodbye recon bolt pic.twitter.com/YmkXRX25cw
— shah (@wafhuw) July 17, 2023
The creator of the Recon Bolt app, Dunskus, shared a cease & desist letter from Riot on their Discord group. The letter threatened legal action if the instalock app was not taken down.
It's hard to describe how disappointed I am that things have turned out this way, but Riot has shut down all attempts from my side to have a conversation about this and figure out a way forward together.
The deadline for shutting down the app was July 27, but as a precaution, the developer and owner decided to take it down a week earlier. Besides providing instalocking functionality, the app also offered stats similar to Tracker & Blitz.
Furthermore, it tracked missions, loadouts, shop offerings, and even had an illicit built-in skin changer, which violates Riot's Terms of Service.
Does Recon Bolt Still Function?
Riot requested the app be removed from the App Store and made unavailable for download. But what about those who already downloaded it? Currently, the app still functions for those who have it installed, but it relies on an API that could cease to operate at any moment.
If that happens, it could follow a similar outcome to Flappy Bird, where the app was removed from the App Store but remained playable for those who already had it installed.
saw a screenie that its gonna be a similar situation that flappy bird was where its removed from the appstore but the app will still work
— Backstreet (@BackstreetBoyTV) July 18, 2023
Irrespective of players' preferences, the app provides features that are not meant to be available and violate Valorant and Riot's Terms of Service. We recently published an article discussing this and other apps that enable skin changing and the potential consequences: Will I Get Banned For Using A Skin Changer In Valorant. So, if you're considering whether to continue using it, we recommend reading the article and making an informed decision.
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