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As the Valorant world gears up to expand its horizon, all eyes are on the upcoming Valorant Sunset Map. Inspired by the bustling vibes of Los Angeles, this new map promises players thrilling skirmishes among evocative West Coast settings. Dive deep with us as we detail its structure, features, and when you can get your hands on it.
The last six months in Valorant have been a period of anticipation since the introduction of the Lotus map on January 10, 2023, during Episode 6 Act 1. As Episode 7 Act 2 beckons, fans eagerly await the Sunset Map, which, contrasting with its predecessors, omits typical gameplay “gimmicks.” Instead, it brings forth a simple yet enthralling design that many players might find refreshing.
Release Date of the Valorant Sunset Map
The new map goes live on August 29, 2023, alongside the kickoff of Episode 7 Act 2. Along with the map, players can also look forward to a slew of fresh content through an all-new battle pass.
New Map Layout Breakdown
The Sunset map is poised to break some traditional Valorant mould. Unlike maps like Lotus and Haven, Sunset boasts only two spike sites. However, it compensates with three distinct lanes offering intense combat opportunities. The map’s design stresses the importance of mid-control, dotted strategically with cover boxes to aid both attackers and defenders.
Offering insights into the map’s design, Joe Lansford, Lead Map Designer for Valorant, said, “Sunset features a mid that is fairly difficult to control and doesn’t favor one team or another; it’s generally good for rifle ranges and opens up a bunch of opportunities for whichever team can take it. We expect to see both teams make mid-control a central part of their strategy on Sunset”.
In terms of ambience, the map is a visual ode to Los Angeles. Players will encounter various LA-centric motifs, such as vibrant art installations, lively food trucks, and iconic skate parks. Lansford shed light on the aesthetic choices, saying, “We took most of our artistic inspiration from right here in our backyard. You’ll find many staples from our diverse LA culture across the map. Everything from food trucks, traffic jams, and art deco architecture to neon sunsets”.
Perfectly capturing the LA sunset’s allure, with its iconic pinkish hue and stretching shadows, was a design challenge, admitted Lansford. The key was to marry aesthetic brilliance with optimal gameplay clarity, a balance they believe they’ve achieved.
As we approach the month’s end, players can brace themselves to venture into the captivating world of Sunset and gauge its gameplay nuances firsthand.
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