Integrase (IN) is one of the most important enzymes in the replication of the HIV-1 virus, as it integrates viral DNA (vDNA) into the genome of the host cells. However, recent studies have suggested a new surprising role of IN in HIV-1 maturation. If IN is inhibited either by mutations or by allosteric integrase inhibitors (ALLINIs), viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) are often eccentrically localized outside of the capsid (CA). Such viral particles are non-infectious and are blocked at an early stage of the reverse transcription in the target cells, as a result of premature degradation of IN and viral RNA (vRNA) genome, together with the spatial separation of reverse transcriptase (RT) from vRNA. IN directly binds the vRNA genome in virions by its surface exposed lysine residues, exhibiting a distinct preference for selected vRNA structural elements. In this way, IN provides nucleation points by bridging separate RNA molecules, promoting the effective compaction of vRNPs. These interactions then ensure the proper packaging of vRNPs inside the CA. Even though the mechanism of action of ALLINIs, an emerging class of anti-HIV drugs, is still not fully understood, it seems that they mostly act by blocking the IN-vRNA interaction, which results in aberrant non-infectious particles. This non-catalytic role of IN enables the understanding of the HIV-1 maturation process in greater detail, which can be successfully used in the development of new drugs, such as ALLINIs. However, a lot of research still needs to be done, as there is a lot of detail in this IN-driven maturation process that still needs to be explained.