Riot responds to TenZ’s complaints about Valorant bomb sites

Valorant has seven maps in rotation, but they’re far from perfect according to former pro player Tyson “TenZ” Ngo, and Riot is taking notes.

Riot Games has rolled out ten maps in Valorant so far, and all of them are objective-based. In all locations, attackers must plant the spike and defenders are tasked with defusing it with the help of teamwork, utility, and gunplay. This is not a new concept in the genre and has been used in previous FPS titles as well. However, most Valorant bomb sites have one common flaw, according to TenZ. Taking to X, the star expressed his opinion regarding existing Valorant maps, earning a prompt response from the developer.

According to the retired pro player, the game has too many maps that encourage bland and repetitive gameplay. Surprisingly, Riot agrees.

Why TenZ hates Valorant’s bomb sites

TenZ’s complaints about Valorant’s bomb sites revolve around the safety of holding from entrances rather than the site itself.

Objective-based gameplay doesn’t have to mean boring or repetitive mechanics. Sure, the ultimate goal is to defuse the spike, but there are multiple ways to reach that point. In Counter-Strike 2, retakers are more likely to run out of utility compared to Valorant. This forces players to quickly improvise last-minute strategies to hit their target, navigating complex maps with whatever tools they have left.

In contrast, Valorant’s maps are more uniform, favoring post-plant utility and main site-focused play. Retakers often enter from the same predictable routes because of the way the maps are designed, rather than using creative flanks. With abilities frequently recharging, defenders can deal serious damage without even stepping foot onto the site.

According to TenZ, that is some “boring sh*t to play,” since most maps are just “destinations where you plant, fallback, and either spray or utility spam the spike.” Valorant maps design lead Joey Simas agrees with the sentiment.

“I agree. I think it’s fine if a post plant is played from main occasionally, but I don’t love how prominent this play pattern is on our maps right now. I’m invested in making it better,”

Riot recently added Abyss, which does bring more dimension to overall Valorant gameplay. It remains to be seen if TenZ’s observation prompts Riot to change how future Valorant bomb sites play out completely.