New map Breeze officially revealed, release date revealed

Valorant Episode 2, Act 3 is finally upon us and it adds a brand new map to the Valorant map pool. 

The last Act of Episode 1 patched up the ranked experience, but it also expanded Valorant’s limited map collection. Icebox was the fifth map, boasting a lot of vertical firefights, close-quarters combat, and a snowy aesthetic. The sixth map, Breeze, was basically designed to be the complete opposite Icebox. 

Grab your picnic basket, because the new map Breeze takes you to a beach in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. 

Breeze, which was previously leaked as Foxtrot, features a lot of picturesque views including a blue ocean and white sand. While the backstory seems quite grim, the map itself has an upbeat and playful vibe to it, rather than the cold industrial look of Icebox.

The map is a mixture of open outdoor areas and indoor corridors, reminiscent of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive maps Aztec and Cobblestone. 

Valorant developer Devon Fray explained that Caribbean islands were a major inspiration behind Breeze’s colorful scenery. With Breeze, the developer changed the landscape from Icebox’s angular, grey, and pointy location to a more calm, bright world of Breeze. 

“We loved the old forts and tropical beaches. The setting also let us tell a story of modern piracy in a history-rich location. What if Kingdom lost control of its Radianite stores and technology? What would the people who took it do with it?” Devon Fray said. 

The differences from Icebox aren’t just aesthetic. Instead of the tight corridors and abundant props of Icebox, Breeze has “long-range engagements, open spaces, wide chokepoints, and important territory control.”

This looks like a relatively large map, which means Cypher and Killjoy will likely shine on Breeze due to their ability to secure the backlines. Initiators like Sova and Skye may also thrive on this map. Brimstone may also rise from the ashes and reappear on the charts after taking a hit during the Viper meta. 

When will the sixth map Breeze release?

Luckily for fans, Breeze has a firm release date.

Valorant’s new Breeze map will arrive on April 27 with the launch of Valorant Episode 2, Act 3.

The map was initially leaked by various data miners who published posters hinting at a beach location. A breakdown of the Night. Market cipher revealed that the new map will be a tropical location set in Caribbean Sea and will be dubbed as “Foxtrot.” The developer later confirmed the name Breeze in banners plastered across Bind and Split. 

The highly anticipated map is one of the most unique locations in Valorant. The game currently has five maps, and all of them have a unique mechanic that separate them such as teleporters, ziplines, and three bomb points. It’ll be interesting to see what Breeze brings to the table.