While the ongoing Valorant season is in its final throes, Riot is launching the future of the hero shooter. Included: a brand new map.
A warm golden yellow hue is what photographers cherish about Golden Hour. The time in the late afternoon or evening when the sky slowly turns from blue to yellow and orange is considered particularly aesthetic. Time and again, the phenomenon can be observed in sunny California, where Riot Games in Los Angeles not only has its headquarters, but apparently also drew some inspiration for the latest Valorant map.
Victory from the cover shadow
“Sunset” is the apt name of this one, and according to lead map designer Joe Lansford, it’s playfully classic. There are two sites where spikes can be placed and three lanes. A special focus, according to Lansford, is on controlling the centre of the map. The new game location is supposed to stand out due to cover possibilities. Especially in larger areas, several free-standing blocks are placed behind which players can seek shelter and hide.
The similarity to Los Angeles, on the other hand, can hardly be concealed. We want to create something authentic in which players can see themselves and others. They should feel seen and represented,” reveals Lansford eSport with regard to Riot’s design strategy. That’s why they deliberately set out to recreate regional characteristics. Before the “Pearl” map was created, for example, there was “a lot of research in Lisbon”.
Maps as an instrument of balancing
Of course, game mechanics factors also go into the design and implementation of a game environment, as the lead map designer explains. “Everything is built with the agents’ utility and abilities in mind.” This involves, for example, the course of the path, the distance between barriers or the height of strategically important vantage points.
By varying compositions, different agents and combinations should thus be able to stand out on a map. “We want to encourage different strengths and team compositions,” says Lansford, who feels that every agent has a map on which they can shine.
He left it open, however, which agents it might be on Sunset. So players will have to test for themselves what works and what doesn’t. This will be possible from 29 August, when Season 7, Act II goes online.
