Valorant is removing Split from the map pool

Valorant has revealed a lot of new information about what to expect in Episode 5, Act 1, which begins on June 22.Not only did they reveal a new underwater map, PEARL, but they also announced some changes to the map pool: in production, which includes remove split.

In this video, Dorrani and I discuss our first impressions of the new Valorant map PEARL.

Joe “Pearl Hogbash” Lansford, Design Lead for the Maps team, explained the decision via the PlayValorant blog.

After introducing Fracture last year, the Valorant team seems very excited about finally having seven maps in rotation. Having seven maps will allow Tournament Best 5 to choose two map bans and then go on their tournament without duplicating any maps.

The introduction of PEARL means that the map pool now consists of eight different maps. After working with their esports team, surveying players, and collaborating with other professional organizations, Lansford shared that the team has decided to keep the pool of seven maps, and Split will be the first to be rotated out.

A small area of the underwater Valorant map PEARL can be seen. — This is the middle square area of the new Valorant map Split.

What is the thought process behind this? Why do we need seven maps? Well, Lansford digs into the lucky number 7, “Learning a new map can be one of the hardest parts of a tactical shooter. It’s even harder to go from ‘learning’ to ‘mastering’.”

“The team sees No. 7 as a great sweet spot, offering variety and mastery. You don’t have to spend all your time learning new angles, lineups and strategies. New players will have an easier onboarding experience. . Pro teams can have deeper, more exciting playbooks. Win, win, win,” Lansford continued.

While Split will be removed from the unrated and competitive queues when Episode 5 rolls out on June 22, it’s not the complete end of Split. The map will still appear in other game modes, such as Spike Rush, and can be played in Customs.

After analyzing a range of different factors, it was decided to remove Split. Lansford lists “player sentiment, time since launch, planned updates past and future, strategic differences the map brings, and where PEARL fits into all of these” as just a few of the reasons for Split’s launch. is the first map to spin out of the pool.

Finally, Lansford did share that they are sure the map will return in the future. In lieu of another map, no doubt, but at least it’s not the complete end of the split.