ValorantAbyssNew leaks say Abyss is coming back to VALORANT’s map pool in Act 5, just in time for Champions 2026 Shanghai. Let’s recap.
Abyss is reportedly returning to the VALORANT map pool in Season 2026, Act 5. Image Credits: Riot Games via Website
Abyss may be returning to the VALORANT map pool in Act 5, just in time for Champions 2026. Players are getting ready to make tricky jumps, avoid Phoenix flashes in A-main, and hold mid with the Op. Here’s a quick recap.
VALORANT‘s Season 2026: Act 4 map pool mixes long-standing favorites with the brand-new release Summit. The China-inspired map has now been live for over a month. It brought players Sage lore drops, fresh strategies, and some interesting mechanics, like a Heaven doorway that breaks and closes off the angle when shot.
As the Act is drawing to a close, players are wondering what the next map rotation will look like. Season 2026: Act 5 is the next update in line, and it’s dropping very, very soon.
New leaks have given the player base an idea of what we’ll be queueing into in Ranked: reportedly, Abyss will re-enter the pool. This comes from multiple reputable sources, including leaker and dataminer @valohabercisi, Polymarket, and other outlets.
Abyss originally launched in June 2024. It was notable as the first VALORANT map where players could literally fall off the edge, providing real environmental danger. It’s decently common for Jett and Raze mains to accidentally dash or satchel into oblivion while trying to enter A site. We’ve also seen many a player miss the B-site secret jump, plummeting to their deaths.
Usually, VALORANT removes two maps and adds two maps in each update. We don’t know yet what the other map could be.
If the leaks are accurate, the Abyss return is quite interesting, because it’s only been out of the map pool for a small time. Abyss departed the rotation in March 2026, so it would be coming back just 4 months later.
This could make some sense because it’s one of VALORANT’s (relatively) newer maps. Abyss’ design represents a new era for the game, and its creative elements stand out. Riot probably wants to give it some time in the spotlight to mix things up from classic picks like Haven, Ascent, and Split.
Notably, Abyss was also the decider that EDward Gaming won Champions 2024 on. The map broke the team’s tie with Team Heretics, handing them a 3:2 path to the trophy. EDG’s victory made them the first Chinese team to win VALORANT Champions. It also occurred soon after Riot added the China competitive region to the game. The timing is right to add this map back, since VALORANT Champions 2026 will occur in Shanghai, China. It’s a throwback that pays homage to the region and one of its best teams.
Since each Act lasts several months, Abyss would also be part of the Champions 2026 map pool if the leaks are legit. The tournament begins on September 24. This means you can expect to see your favorite teams playing on Abyss with refreshed Agent comps.
Season 2026: Act 5 will go live after Act 4 closes on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The exact update time will vary depending on the player’s server region and location. Typically, VALORANT tries to run the update during less populated server hours. It may require a download once it goes live, so make sure there’s space on your PC.
In addition to the fresh map pool, VALORANT Season 2026: Act 5 will include a new Battlepass, Agent balance updates, and more skins. All will appear in the game‘s Patch Notes.
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