The following VALORANT map has lastly been formally revealed in Sundown, confirming hints that Riot was engaged on a map set in their very own yard in Los Angeles, California. Whereas the map designers admit that there have been some distinctive challenges in making Sundown, doing so was a labor of affection for the town the developer calls dwelling.
Sundown was first proven behind closed doorways to members of the media earlier than the beginning of the ultimate days of VALORANT Champions 2023, which befell in Los Angeles and concluded on the iconic Kia Discussion board. On the particular occasion, lead map designer Joe Langford spoke extensively about what went into creating the map, saying he relished the chance to make a map in LA as a domestically grown Californian.
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Sundown, a two-site map that prioritizes rapidly taking mid management and using distinctive cowl alternatives to catch opponents off guard, is plagued by LA-inspired components like meals vehicles, a skate park just like the enduring Channel Park in San Pedro, the simply recognizable artwork deco and mission-style structure, a traditional movie show, graffiti murals created by precise native artists, and even the enduring ‘golden hour’ temper lighting. The lighting was one of many larger challenges, although, with Lansford saying that the group labored arduous to search out the “candy spot between temper and gameplay,” as the total golden hour lighting impact made it arduous to see shadows.
Lansford couldn’t assist however share his pleasure for making Sundown, saying that the group took quite a few journeys across the metropolis to attract inspiration and take photographs for reference and supplies.
A number of of the extra complicated concepts initially in thoughts for Sundown had been scaled again, a recurring development in VALORANT map improvement; Pearl featured a massive hole in the ground early in its development when it was nonetheless referred to by the codename Pitt. An unique model of Sundown featured an acid pit beneath an angled hallway that might deal harm to gamers like a Viper’s Snakebite in the event that they stayed in it too lengthy. An Ascent-like door that had an attacker and defender-side change was additionally thought of.
These concepts didn’t stick, although, because the group went for a extra simplified method. Lansford defined that this was because of the map improvement group’s philosophy of “dialing again [map] complexity” and letting the complexity come from the gamers through their agent picks and lineup creation. In the course of the media occasion, quite a few professional gamers showcased that in the course of the preview match, utilizing the favored Harbor-Viper wall combo to take management of a website rapidly, prompting the defending group to experiment with each passive and aggressive defenses to attempt to cease it.
Sundown will formally be part of the VALORANT map pool on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the beginning of Episode Seven, Act Two. Sundown will be part of the returning Breeze in changing the departing Fracture and Pearl.
Concerning the creator
