Valorant map rotation in patch 9.08 has players hating on Ascent, here's why

Syed Mujtaba Naqvi Published 31/07/2024

Riot Games has revealed a Valorant map rotation sequence for patch 9.08, and players aren’t pleased to find out that a legendary map will be swapped out once again while Ascent remains.

Valorant map rotations keep the game fresh and encourage players to enjoy all maps without getting overwhelmed. However, it’s not always a good thing, and the upcoming patch 9.08 map rotation is the perfect example of that.

In the recent Valorant state of play, Riot Games has announced that Lotus and Icebox will be removed to make space for Pearl and Split.

“Also, in Patch 9.08, Pearl and Split are returning to the competitive map pool. There will be no design updates to either map,” Lead producer for Valorant map team Al Robles said.

• Read More | Valorant patch 9.02 cracks down on toxic players with serious penalties

Valorant maps Split and Pearl to return without changes

Typically, when maps go out of rotation, they come back looking almost new. Riot gives the benched maps a facelift to better fit the game meta, which according to Riot, wasn’t necessary this time.

The return of Pearl and Split without any modifications, alongside the continued presence of Ascent, has left the community questioning the reasoning behind these choices. The first thing players questioned was why Ascent remains in the pool. With Lotus now removed, Ascent is the only map that has never been taken out of the map rotation.

Despite its popularity, Ascent’s constant presence in Valorant has sparked player fatigue, fueling calls for its removal from rotation. Icebox has previously been cut out of the map pool, and players have grown to like to icy tundra, prompting a negative response from the community.

What are the active maps in Valorant?

Valorant episode 9 map rotation includes Ascent, Bind, Breeze, Icebox, Lotus, Sunset, and Abyss.

Ascent, in particular, has become the subject of criticism, with many players expressing their dissatisfaction with the map’s design and gameplay.

“I’m beginning to think Ascent is just hard-coded into the game… Maybe it can’t be removed?” questioned VCT analyst Sean Gares on the upcoming map pool.

Despite the criticism, Riot Games has not provided an official statement on the matter. However, the community remains hopeful that the developers will take their feedback into consideration and make necessary changes to the map rotation in future updates.

Read Also

Valorant

VCT Masters London Final Swiss Stage Predictions: Who Makes the Playoffs? Owen Harsono There are only two playoff spots remaining at VCT Masters London, and the final day of the Swiss Stage will decide which teams claim them. Every match today is a must-win, with elimination on the line for all four teams involved. Here are our VCT Masters London Swiss Stage predictions for the final day. NRG will take on FUT Esports in a do-or-die match. We have a very experienced team ...

Valorant

Which teams will make it to the VCT Masters London playoffs? Owen Harsono The first round of the VCT Masters London Swiss Stage has come to a close, and we have a pretty good idea of which teams are looking good – and which ones aren’t. Let’s take a look at the frontrunners who will likely survive the first stage with flying colors. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally able to see the EMEA superteam play in their first international ...

Esports Betting

VALORANT Masters London 2026: Teams, format, prize pool and odds Owen Harsono After a long wait, international Valorant action is back. Twelve of the best teams across four major regions have booked their spots at the upcoming VALORANT Masters London 2026 tournament, and we’re in for a treat. Here’s everything you need to know about the event. Masters London is the second international VALORANT tournament of the year, following Masters Santiago in February and March. We have several new rookies making their ...

Valorant

NRG vs 100 Thieves betting predictions and best picks: VCT Americas Stage 1 Owen Harsono NRG will take on 100 Thieves in the lower bracket of VCT Americas Stage 1, with the winner booking the final spot at Valorant Masters London 2026. There’s a lot on the line, as this series will determine how the next few months look for both teams. Here is our NRG vs 100 Thieves VCT Americas Stage 1 predictions. Tournament: VCT Americas Stage 1 Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best-of-three ...

Esports Betting

EWC officially heads to Paris for 2026 as early reports confirmed Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris, France from July later this year as per an new announcement by the EWC organizers, the Esports Foundation. Revealed in a post on their official social media, and an accompanying release and blog post, the announcement confirmed earlier speculation that the event would move location due to the “regional situation” around Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here’s the info: The Esports World ...

Valorant

Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE betting preview, odds, and best picks: VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand final predictions Owen Harsono FULL SENSE will take on Paper Rex for the VCT Pacific crown, as the two teams clash in the Pacific Stage 1 grand finals. The former made a clean run through the upper bracket, while the latter has been ramping up through the lower bracket. Here are our Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE VCT Pacific predictions. Tournament: VCT Pacific Stage 1 Stage: Grand Final Game: Valorant Format: Best of 5 ...

Valorant

Valorant’s TenZ joins T1 as a content creator Hannan Mundia After a long career with Sentinels, the former professional Valorant player TenZ joined T1 as a content creator. Riot Games’ FPS title Valorant has given rise to multiple names. However, few have earned the recognition and respect that Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo has. While he has retired from his career as a professional Valorant player, he continues to create content on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. While he’s most ...