The highly anticipated next map for VALORANT has been revealed as “Sunset,” confirming previous hints about a map set in Los Angeles, California. The map designers faced unique challenges in creating Sunset but were driven by their love for the city they call home.
Sunset was initially showcased to members of the media behind closed doors during the final days of VALORANT Champions 2023 in Los Angeles. Lead map designer Joe Langford expressed his excitement about the opportunity to create a map in his hometown of LA.
Sunset is a two-site map that emphasizes the importance of quickly gaining control of the mid area and utilizing unique cover opportunities to catch opponents off guard. The map is filled with elements inspired by LA, such as food trucks, a skate park reminiscent of the iconic Channel Park in San Pedro, art deco and mission-style architecture, a classic movie theater, graffiti murals created by local artists, and the iconic “golden hour” lighting. However, achieving the perfect lighting balance was a challenge, as the full golden hour effect made it difficult to see shadows.
Lansford shared his team’s dedication to creating Sunset, mentioning that they took multiple trips around the city to gather inspiration and reference materials through photographs.
While some complex ideas were initially considered for Sunset, the team decided to simplify the map’s design. This aligns with the philosophy of dialing back complexity in VALORANT map development and allowing players to bring complexity through their agent selections and strategies. During the media event, professional players demonstrated this by utilizing the popular Harbor-Viper wall combo to quickly take control of a site, prompting the defending team to experiment with different defensive approaches.
Sunset will officially join the VALORANT map pool on Tuesday, August 29th, with the start of Episode Seven, Act Two. It will replace the departing maps Fracture and Pearl, joining the returning map Breeze.
| Event | Date | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALORANT Champions 2023 | August 29th | Los Angeles | Kia Forum |
Source: DOTESPORTS
