Valorant Episode 5 release date and new map Pearl announced

pcgamesn.com:

Riot Games has unveiled the Valorant Episode 5 release date – the update adds new map Pearl to the FPS game alongside a brand-new skin line called ‘Prelude to Chaos’ and a fresh battle pass. The new map, Pearl, is the game’s eighth and the first to be set on Omega Earth. It’s a straightforward, no-frills map with heavy Portuguese influence that’s also set underwater. Valorant Episode 5 – titled ‘Dimension’ – goes live on June 22 with Act 1.

“Since Pearl takes place on Omega Earth,” explains art lead Brian Yam, “we wanted to explore how Omega Kingdom would approach climate change and how we would convey this idea visually. The idea of showing the sustainment of cities underwater seemed to be the right visual direction that everyone was excited about.” Pearl also features murals designed by actual Portuguese muralists, and a traditional piece of music from Portuguese artists.

The new map has been designed to keep things a little more simple – Pearl is a three lane map with small, mid, and long range wings, but no mobility tools. Level Designer Joe Lansford says, “After Icebox, Breeze, and Fracture, we wanted to make a map that was a little more straightforward. Pearl demands committed engagements, without the rotation and mobility support of doors, ascenders, and teleporters – what you get is something deceptively simple, strategically speaking.”

If you’re wondering what this means for the game’s competitive map pool, the answer is simple: the team has decided to rotate Split out of the competitive and unrated queue pools on June 22 in order to preserve a seven map selection. Lansford says, “Last year, we were really excited to get to seven maps because it meant tournament best-of-fives could have two map bans without any