Sunset
Riot Games have finally announced and added the new VALORANT Sunset map to the game. Just like the previous maps, players will spend hours and hours on it to master the map before everyone else and possibly find lineups or strategies to have the upper hand in ranked play. Here is everything you need to know about the new Sunset map in VALORANT!
VALORANT Sunset map
Riot Games is based in Los Angeles, United States and the new VALORANT map Sunset represents the city of L.A. with certain cultural staples taken from the city. These staples include food trucks, art deco and mission style architecture, traffic, graffiti (which features a couple of local L.A. artists), and a neon sunset.
“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. We wanted to hit the mood of an LA sunset with a pink skyline and long shadows, but those aren’t great for gameplay. After a lot of back and forth, we think we found that sweet spot that captures both the tone and clarity we want,” said Joe Lansford, lead map designer.
Sunset is designed to incorporate elements from other maps in VALORANT, such as Ascent's open and closing doors and Lotus' airlock, which briefly provides new pathways for players to navigate. However, what sets Sunset apart is its "poison pit," a unique gameplay mechanic that adds an additional layer of strategy and challenge to the map.
Sunset's layout is centered around a three-lane design, a configuration that will be familiar to players experienced in Team Deathmatch gameplay. In the context of this layout, the map is divided into three distinct paths or lanes that players can navigate. This design approach is often used in competitive shooters to create clear and easily navigable routes for players to move through the map.
“VALORANT has several versions of the three lane map formula, but we haven’t made one with a strong focus on mid control in a long time - Enter Sunset. Sunset features a mid that is fairly difficult to control and doesn’t really 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,” said Lansford.
Valorant Sunset Map sites
There are two bomb sites in Sunset, A and B, just like the traditional way we are used to. There will be certain strategies and spots on these maps that players will have to get accustomed to. The A site will challenge players with intense close-quarters combat scenarios due to its narrow walkways and corridors. Meanwhile, the B site features a familiar element from the Ascent map - one of its distinctive doors. When this door is breached, it creates a lengthy line of sight extending from the B site to the Mid area, impacting players' strategic possibilities and tactical considerations. This combination of diverse spaces and interactions creates engaging and dynamic gameplay experiences on the map. The mid area introduces a unique and innovative layout to VALORANT maps, characterized by its horseshoe shape. This design deviation from the traditional layout brings a fresh perspective to gameplay.
Valorant Sunset Map layout
There are two bomb sites and three lanes with a strong emphasis on mid control in the new VALORANT Sunet map. As seen in the image below, the A and B bomb sites are divided with a big mid lane that is aimed to play the biggest role in the competitive games. Traditionally, the bomb sites are placed horizontally, while Attacker and Defender Spawns are located on the Northern and Southern sides of the map. The mid control will play the biggest role as Riot designers emphasized the area when they first started designing the new map. It will be pretty hard to get mid control as there are multiple entrances to the area, and a large place in the middle of the map might host some of the biggest gun duels on the map.
“Sunset features a mid that is fairly difficult to control and doesn’t really 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,” added Joe Lansford.
The three-lane layout is a well-established structure in games like VALORANT, as it allows for balanced gameplay and strategic maneuvering. Each lane typically presents its own set of challenges and opportunities, catering to various playstyles and tactics. As a result, players can engage in dynamic battles and coordinate team movements effectively within this type of map design.
Valorant Sunset Map release date
The Sunset map in VALORANT will be released on August 29, 2023, alongside Episode 7 Act II. The new map will be playable with the new Act, and ranked players will have a chance to try it out against themselves, almost all of them playing the map for the first time, except for the beta testers. After its release, it is expected to stay in the map pool for a long time as it is the newest map of the map. It will surely take some time for players to get used to it. In other words, you can hop in now and try out the map!
