Riot Games Teases New Map in VALORANT Set in Los Angeles
Riot Games is hinting at the arrival of new lore and content in the next episode act of VALORANT, with a teaser suggesting the introduction of a new map set in the sunny city of Los Angeles.
The teaser, posted on August 15, features the newest agent Deadlock and Cypher meeting in a security van to review footage from Kingdom Laboratories. As Deadlock approaches the van in the clip, she walks through an urban environment with palm trees and tall hills dotted with houses, reminiscent of LA.
Upon closer inspection, a map briefly displayed on Cypher’s screen shows a match to the southern coast of Los Angeles, including the Port of Long Beach. The location marked on Cypher’s map appears to be near the intersection of the I-5 and I-605 highways in real-life LA.
The presence of a parked classic car and the familiar orange glow further suggest Los Angeles. This isn’t the first clue either; the current Episode Seven, Act One battle pass features the Golden Hour player card with a similar sunny atmosphere and LA aesthetics. Riot has used player cards in the past to tease new maps, as seen with Pearl and Lotus.
The teaser also points to the date of August 26, which aligns with the Los Angeles theory. On August 26, the VALORANT Champions 2023 finals will take place in Los Angeles. As this event marks the end of the 2023 VCT season and Episode Seven, Act One comes to a close shortly after, it seems like the perfect time for Riot to unveil the new map.
Keyword: VALORANT, Riot Games, new map, LA, Los Angeles, esports