Riot teases next Valorant agent and new geo dome-themed map

Fariha Bhatti Published 07/10/2021

Riot Games has dropped a detailed explainer behind the latest map, Fracture, but it also contains some hints regarding the next agent, as well as a new map.

Fracture is now available for play, and it’s been a successful addition so far. Apart from its mind-blowing lore, the map introduced the first-person shooter’s first double-spawn location, at least in competitive queues.

Players already like the new map, but it keeps getting better. It seems that Riot Games is using Fracture to deliver hints for upcoming Valorant content. The developer recently published a blog post to explain the new map, and added a little note in the form of an in-game email.

Fracture emails hint at new agent and map for Valorant

Valorant’s designers dropped a very strong hint that the next Valorant map will be themed on a “city-wide geo dome” in a blog post about Fracture.

“As for what comes next on “map 8,” no spoilers, but you might find some clues in those Fracture emails. Hopefully, they’re not lost in your spam folder,” Lead artist Brian Yam, and level designer Joe Lansford said.

The computers in Fracture have received a new message from the same mysterious Oran McEneff who K-SEC Team previously welcomed into the Everett-Linde facility. However, this time Oran seems to be talking about a new location and potential agent referred to as “tie guy.”

“Hearing about your world was incredible! I can’t believe you have a city-wide geodome, truly a modern wonder,” Oran wrote to Aurora.

It’s unknown who this Aurora individual is, but Oran is likely referring to a place that could enter Valorant as the next map. Riot Games has successfully managed to keep a scenery balance in its maps with tropical, icy, dusty, and urban locales and futuristic scenery like an enclosed city would continue that trend. The eighth map will likely continue to expand the story of Valorant.

Riot Games drops more hints about Deadeye

Oran also referred to agent 17 as the “tie-guy,” which is almost certainly a reference to the upcoming Valorant agent codenamed Deadeye.

Deadeye has been teased in multiple ways to this point, with teases in trailers and props being hidden in inaccessible areas on maps that suggest he’s a sort of dapper assassin. Oran’s new email drives this further, but unfortunately doesn’t exactly explain much about his toolkit. It might be the case that the next agent would add more high-end, trailblazing tech-based powers to Valorant or he could have some sort of built-in sniping components to fit with his name.

Fracture is still new, so it will likely be a while until the next map rolls in. However, players should keep an eye out for Deadeye in Valorant’s next act update in November 2021.

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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