Win.gg
Valorant
Valorant will stick to seven-map pool, will Split return? Valorant will stick to seven-map pool, will Split return?
It’s time to bid farewell to Split. Riot Games has settled on magic number seven for the Valorant map pool, scraping Split from the rotation.
Riot Game has been building on Valorant’s limited map pool with the location release after a six-month gap. Initially, players dabbled in four maps, which led to poor rotation. The developer found a solution by adding more maps, ultimately increasing variety. In 2022, Valorant has a total of eight playgrounds, including Pearl. But, according to the developer, too many maps can feel overwhelming, hence the removal of Split.
The Episode 5 patch update is a big one. The meta-shaking patch has introduced a
new rank badge
to the ladder, added Pearl, and has removed a fan-favorite map, Split.
Why did Riot remove Split from Valorant?
Riot has settled on a fixed number for the Valorant map pool. From now, players will have seven maps in rotation, which means one has to go away after intervals.
“Too many maps to learn can feel overwhelming and doesn’t give some of you the opportunity to really go deep on any one of them. The team thinks seven is a nice sweet spot that offers both variety and mastery,”
Riot said.
After patch 5.0, Valorant will no longer have Split in the map rotation. The developer has removed the popular map in favor of the underwater city Pearl. The shiny new reverse-aquarium map has already made its way into active duty and will stay there indefinitely. The reason is to make learning agent setups easier for all players. Doing that on a whole bunch of maps is a steep learning curve. Not to mention all the combinations of agents and utility.
The new system will ensure that players remain focused on a set number of maps instead of learning dozens of setups on new locales.
Is Split removed permanently from Valorant?
No. Split is set to be removed on June 22 indefinitely, but it’s not gone permanently. The map may return with some crucial tweaks.
The map will likely return in the next Episode, switching spots with another location. Split lovers can still enjoy it in customs and alternate game modes. However, the developer has also removed it from casual mode to keep parity between all map pools. Playing casual Split may feel like wasted time when you’re playing a map you know you’ll never see in competitive.
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.
View full profile
Read Also
Valorant
Nongshim RedForce vs Global Esports at VCT Pacific Stage 2: Best Betting Predictions
Owen Harsono
The regular season of VCT Pacific is nearing its end, as Nongshim RedForce take on Global Esports in the upper bracket final of Stage 2. This Valorant match is an incredibly important one for Global Esports, as a win here will secure them a spot at VCT Champions 2026 — the final event of the year. Here are my Nongshim RedForce vs Global Esports VCT Pacific predictions. Tournament: VCT Pacific ...
Valorant
All the VCT Champions and winners so far
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant Champions Tour is one of the biggest esports events, which takes place every tail end of the year. With the 2024 season approaching, it's worth looking back at the winners of all VCT finals so far. Valorant Champions Tour filters out the best teams worldwide and then pits them against each other on the grand stage at the end of every year. Since 2021, this event's trophy has been ...
Valorant
Leviatán vs MIBR at VCT Americas Stage 2: Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
The top two South American organizations are set to clash in the VCT Americas Stage 2 playoffs, as LEVIATAN take on MIBR for a spot in the Upper Bracket Semifinals in São Paulo. We will look closely at leading Valorant betting sites, and with that in mind, here are our LEVIATAN vs MIBR VCT Americas predictions. Tournament: VCT Americas Stage 2 Playoffs Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 ...
Valorant
MIBR vs Leviatán Esports Match Preview & Predictions – Saturday 8 August
Owen Harsono
Two of the top VCT Americas squads are set to clash in Stage 2, as the star-studded roster of MIBR will take on the reigning international champions LEVIATAN in a Best of 3 series. Here are our MIBR vs LEVIATAN VCT Americas Stage 2 predictions. If you’re planning to make a trade on this match, be sure to use our Kalshi promo code WINGGPREMAR for up to $500 in bonus ...
Valorant
Kalshi Promo Code for T1 vs DRX – VCT Pacific Stage 2: Get Up to $500 Bonus with “WINGGPREMAR”
Owen Harsono
This Saturday at VCT Pacific Stage 2 will see a highly anticipated South Korean derby between flagship squads T1 and KIWOOM DRX, with both teams desperately needing this win if they want to top their group. We have looked at the prediction market Kalshi app to try and make sense of what could happen — if you're planning to trade for yourself then be sure to use our Kalshi promo ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
Valorant
Top 10 Best Valorant Players to Have Never Won an International Event
Owen Harsono
We’ve seen countless talented Valorant players, but the reality is that not everyone can win an international trophy. Some are world-class players who have cracked aim and insane utility usage, but are still missing that one big win in their careers. Below, we take a look at the top 10 Valorant players who have never won a VCT Masters or Champions title. Cryocells has been one of North America’s best ...
