In which REAL city is each Valorant Map Located?

Riot Games’ tactical shooter Valorant has sold millions of copies worldwide thanks to its addictive gameplay, unique agent capabilities, and stunning maps. Although set in a post-futuristic Earth world, the maps themselves are based on real locations with a different culture and history.

From Venice’s canals to Bhutan’s mountain monasteries, Valorant’s map artists have captured these diverse environments perfectly in the game. We’ll examine the locations of each of Valorant’s main maps in more detail.

Ascent: The Floating City of Venice

Ascent takes players to Venice, Italy, and is the first map added after Valorant launched. Its coordinates (45′ 26′ 15 “N, 12′ 20′ 9′ E) put it in the center of this famous canal city.

Players will recognize Venice’s grand buildings from the map – the Basilica of St. Mark and the Campanile bell tower. Ascent’s Italian Renaissance design captures the romance and grandeur of one of the world’s most romantic cities.

Bind: The Hometown of Cypher in Rabat

For those familiar with Valorant’s lore, the map Bind holds special significance as the former home of Agent Cypher. Set in the Moroccan capital of Rabat (34°2’0″ N, 6°51’0″ W), Bind features an arid, desert landscape that Cypher laments has fallen into ruin.

The crumbling architecture and sandy terrain transport players to Northern Africa, providing a stark contrast to Valorant’s other vibrant locales. Longtime fans will appreciate the insight into Cypher’s backstory and the rich Moroccan influences throughout the map.

Breeze: Radianite Battleground in the Bermuda Triangle  

Breeze is one of Valorant’s more original maps, with no real-world city inspiration. Instead, its latitude (26′ 11′ 06 ” N, 71′ 10′ 31 ” W) puts it right in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle.

This isolated tropical island retreat with its white sand and blue waters is instantly reminiscent of the Bermuda Triangle. From an in-game perspective, Breeze represents a pivotal location in the ongoing conflict over the powerful radianite substance.

Fracture: Ground Zero of a New Mexico Disaster

The dramatic, split setting of Fracture is a physical manifestation of the powerful effects of radianite. Its real-world coordinates (35°48’18” N, 106°08’19” W) point to Santa Fe, New Mexico as the origin of this map’s catastrophic event.

Deep canyons divide the map, with remnants of a research facility where an experiment went horribly wrong. The Southwestern American aesthetic blends perfectly with Fracture’s narrative of uncontrolled radianite energy ripping the landscape apart.

Haven: Sacred Monastery Grounds of Thimphu

For a game filled with advanced technology, Haven offers a refreshingly serene respite in the monastery-filled capital of Bhutan. With coordinates located in Thimphu itself (27°28’0″ N, 89°38’30” E), Haven’s three-site design draws clear inspiration from the region’s Buddhist culture and architecture.

The ornate temples, peaceful gardens, and intricate woodcarvings provide a stunning contrast to Valorant’s typical urban maps. For players looking to take a break from the chaos, Haven’s transcendent atmosphere offers the perfect spiritual retreat.

Icebox: Frosty Radianite Skirmish in Arctic Russia

No discussion of Valorant’s maps would be complete without mentioning the harsh, icy tundra of Icebox. This remote Arctic map is set in the seldom-visited Bennett Island in Russia (76°44’0″ N, 149°30’0″ E), a barren landscape where Radianite continues to attract conflict.

From the rugged snow-capped mountain scenery to the clusters of research facilities, Icebox’s level design immerses players in a forbidding yet visually breathtaking environment. For fans of winter warfare, this frosty Russian outpost sets the stage for some of Valorant’s most intense skirmishes.

Pearl: Portuguese Dome City of the Future 

The latest addition to Valorant’s map roster, Pearl, takes players to a very different vision of Lisbon, Portugal (38°42’43″N, 9°08’27″W). Set in an alternate future timeline, Pearl depicts Lisbon encased within a massive protective dome to shield it from catastrophic climate change.

While the interior of the dome shows a pristine futuristic city, the mirror-like exterior reflects the flooded ruins of the original Lisbon outside. This stark juxtaposition makes Pearl one of Valorant’s most thematically and visually compelling maps yet, blending Portuguese influences with an apocalyptic sci-fi vision.

Split: Vibrant Urban Warfare in Tokyo 

While Split was temporarily removed from Valorant’s map rotation with the arrival of Pearl, this iconic Japanese-inspired location is slated to make a return. The map’s coordinates (35°41’23” N, 139°41’32” E) place it directly in Tokyo’s bustling city center near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Split’s dense urban layout packed with skyscrapers and traversal ziplines perfectly channels Tokyo’s hyper-modern vibe. From ramen advertisements to vibrant neon signage, the map nails the atmospheric details that give Tokyo its unmistakable energy.

Valorant’s Real-World Inspirations Deepen Its Immersion

As this overview shows, the real-world ties of each Valorant map provide both visual flair and a sense of conceptual grounding for the imaginative near-future setting. By taking inspiration from iconic global locations like Venice, Tokyo, and the Bermuda Triangle, Valorant’s maps come alive with a tangible sense of culture and history. 

For players looking to gain an edge through environmental mastery, appreciating these real-world foundations adds extra layers of tactical awareness and immersion. Riot’s expert world-building makes every objective, sightline, and chokepoint feel purposeful rather than randomly assembled.

Whether you’re battling through the ancient alleys of Morocco or high-tech dome cities of the future, Valorant’s commitment to authenticity in its map design provides a level of worldwide representation seldom seen in competitive shooters. As the game continues to expand with new agents and locales, the exciting real-world inspirations are sure to keep on coming.