Split may not have been the most popular Valorant map before, but it sure became a favorite after Riot removed it from the active pool. So, when is it coming back?
Valorant Episode 5, Act 1
locked the active map pool at seven. Riot Games decided it no longer wants to field all maps in rotation as they may overwhelm new and old players. Learning eight maps when one of them is still new would be frustrating, so the decision to settle on number seven was a welcome one. However, not everyone was sold on cutting Split out.
Initially, Project: A fans were bummed that the closed beta map may be gone forever, but Riot assured them it would return. The question of when was never answered, but players have been bugging the developer to bring Split back.
“When we plugged all those numbers into the magic algorithm machine, we landed on Split. We’re pretty sure it will be back sometime in the future. Maybe even with some tweaks?” Riot said.
Riot Games has left Split enthusiasts high and dry, but we might be able to guess Split’s return date. The latest gun bundle,
Ion 2.0, was showcased on Split, which led many to hope that Riot is dropping hints.
Patch 5.06’s Kohaku & Matsuba collection was also displayed in Split, suggesting that Riot hasn’t forgotten about the map. Consistent mention of the removed map likely means it’s on the verge of a return.
If we were to take a wild guess, Split might return in Valorant episode 6, Act 1. The new rotation cycle is currently unknown, but a refresh at each episode’s beginning makes the most sense. A Valorant episode has three acts, each running for about two months. Six months to comfortably master and compete on seven fixed maps should be more than enough.
With this calculation, it won’t be wrong to expect Split’s return in about two months with Valorant Episode 6, Act 1.
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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