RIVALS Patch Notes: Update 23 Changes & Event Rewards

Update 23 is the celebration patch Nosniy Games released after RIVALS won Best Studio and Best Shooter at the 2026 Roblox Innovation Awards, and it is one of the most generous updates the game has had. These RIVALS patch notes cover everything that changed: the temporary free-weapons event, the Wildcat buffs, the ranked ELO revert, the new Gates map, and the reward codes that came with the celebration.

If you are coming back after a break, here is the short version: every weapon is free to try for a limited time, the Wildcat SMG is significantly stronger, ranked progression was rolled back to the previous ELO logic, and a batch of active codes hands out free Keys and cosmetics.

The Free-Weapons Celebration

To celebrate the two award wins, the developers unlocked the entire weapon arsenal for a limited run of about a week. During the event you can equip high-tier weapons you have not purchased yet — including the Wildcat, Sniper, Crossbow and the newer additions — without spending Keys.

The practical advice during the event: test before you buy. Play a few matches with weapons you were hesitating over, then spend your Keys on the ones that fit your aim and movement style once the event ends.

Wildcat Buffs

The Wildcat SMG received the largest balance pass in this patch, and it has moved into the top tier for close-to-mid range fights.

The magazine increase from 24 to 30 is the change players feel most: you can now win a multi-enemy exchange without a mid-fight reload. The Wildcat still has its distinctive upward recoil, so practice pull-down compensation in the Shooting Range before taking it into ranked.

Ranked ELO Reverted

The ranked ELO logic was reverted to the previous version in this patch. Community feedback after the experimental change was largely negative — point gains and losses felt too volatile in high-rank lobbies — so the developers restored the stable formula for seasonal progression.

For your placements nothing changes structurally: you still need Level 100, the account verification conditions and 10 placement matches before your rank is revealed.

Other Gameplay Changes

• Subspace Tripmine disabled in Arcade: the trip mine no longer spawns in Arcade playlists to reduce clutter in casual matches. It remains available in standard duels.
• Museum map adjustments: spawn points and lighting on Museum were reworked, which changes several established sightlines. Expect more fights around the interior cover instead of long cross-map picks.
• Prize Wheel and login rewards: the progression additions from Update 22 — the Prize Wheel and the expanded login reward track — continue to be the main free sources of Keys and Skin Tickets.

Reward Codes in Update 23

The celebration shipped with new codes alongside the regular rotation. To redeem, follow the developers (@Nosniy and @SenseiWarrior) on Roblox first, win one match to unlock the Shop, then open Shop → More → Codes and verify your username.

Codes are not case-sensitive, but they do expire — redeem them as soon as possible and check the active codes list for the current status of each one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the free-weapons event last?

The celebration runs for about a week from the moment Update 23 went live. After it ends, weapons return to their normal unlock prices, so use the window to test before buying.

Is the Wildcat now the best SMG?

It is the strongest it has ever been and a top pick for aggressive close-to-mid range play. Weapons like the Uzi and Energy Pistols are still competitive, so pick based on your aim style rather than raw stats.

Why was the ELO change reverted?

The experimental ELO logic made high-rank matches feel unstable, with inconsistent point swings. The revert restores the predictable progression players were used to.

Do I need to follow the developers to redeem codes?

Yes. The game checks that your account follows @Nosniy and @SenseiWarrior before the code box appears, so complete that step before redeeming.