Valorant patch 1.14 brings massive changes to controversial Icebox map

The Patch 1.14 update of Valorant brought significant changes in-game, including to the newest map, Icebox.

Since the release of Icebox in Valorant, there have been lots of controversies around it. Riot Games had tried to experiment with a new map-design concept. Many players claimed it was too complicated and had too many angles to focus on, and needed changes. Most players tend to dodge it and favor getting the penalty instead.

To combat this, the Valorant developers have brought in massive physical changes into the map, which might change the game totally. The 1.14 update mainly focused on simplifying the map and lowering camping positions, especially in the A site, filled with tall boxes and barriers and deep corners, and a lot of verticality.

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Changes in A site of Icebox map in Valorant

Image via Riot Games

Image via Riot Games

The first change brought in was the reduction of tall features in the site. The long barrier present right at the entry into the A site from the Attackers' spawn has been shortened, reducing the overall verticality of the map. Its height was giving an advantage to the Attackers, who could easily peek from above, usually the snipers, and kill enemies present in the deep site of A.

However, to balance it out a bit, a new slope has been placed below it, giving the attackers a little power to enter the sites. The lack of a slope used to create thumping sounds, alerting the enemies. But now, Attackers can smoothly carry out a stealth approach from the top.

Image via Riot Games

Image via Riot Games

The second change is the see-through barrier right below the shortened bridge. This relieves pressure on the players present in-site, making for a more predictable path of attack and retake of the sites from outside.

Image via Riot Games

Image via Riot Games

The next change brought in is the deep corner on the right side of the attackers present at A site. This relieves pressure on attackers and retakers of this site. This particular corner used to be favored by players to set a crossfire, as attackers had many angles to check before entering it. With this change, the A site has been simplified to a great extent.

Image via Riot Games

Image via Riot Games

The last change applied on the A site of the Icebox map in Valorant is to the tall radianite boxes present inside. The devs have reduced the height of the boxes to below the knee. This will help attackers and retakers gain control of the site a lot easier than before, as enemies used to hide exactly behind these boxes.

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Change on the B site of Icebox in Valorant

Image via Riot Games

Image via Riot Games

The last change brought into the map is reducing the tall container's massive height at the B site. Agents like Omen and Jett used to climb up and create havoc on Attackers' entry from the spawn. The reduction will bring down verticality greatly, a change that was essential in Valorant.

These modifications will unburden players, especially those who enter the sites first. Riot figuring out to how the community wants its maps to be will be useful in future changes in Valorant as well.