Riot Games is introducing a new map rotation in VALORANT‘s upcoming Patch 8.11, which is set to be released in early June. The announcement was made in the latest Dev Updates video by Coleman Palm, product manager, and Dan Hardison, game designer. They emphasized Riot’s commitment to transparency and revealed that Haven will be making a comeback while Breeze and Split will be taking a break.
Map rotation was first introduced in 2022 during the game’s fifth competitive Episode. The decision to maintain a pool of seven maps out of the available eight ensured a good variety for players without overwhelming them with too many options. This rotation also allowed players to explore and strategize on each map in greater depth. Riot Games has been regularly introducing new maps every six months to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
In the upcoming Patch 8.11, Breeze will be temporarily removed from the map pool, much to the delight of many players. However, Split will be undergoing its second rotation out, which may give Riot Games an opportunity to address any lingering issues or exploits with the map.
Interestingly, while Split is being rotated out for the second time, maps like Ascent and Lotus have yet to complete a full cycle of rotations. This indicates the preference and favor players have towards these maps.
As VALORANT players eagerly await Patch 8.11 and the new map rotation, they also have the Shanghai Masters to look forward to, which is set to begin in less than 48 hours.