Three years ago, with patch 1.10, the snowy map Icebox was released in Valorant. From its release to the present day, the location has come a long way, undergoing various changes, and eventually being removed from the general pool. Today, in honor of Icebox's third anniversary, we decided to recall its history and everything related to the icy location.
On October 13, 2020, Riot Games added the Icebox map to Valorant, making it the fifth in the game. The map's code name is "Port," fully corresponding to its design, with most of the location filled with cargo containers, and a ship stuck in thick ice visible in the background.
Interestingly, Icebox was the first to introduce horizontal zip lines, allowing movement from left to right. Also, since it's an icy location, the developers hid several penguins on it, serving as an easter egg.
Despite criticism from players, the map did not receive updates for a long time. The first and substantial changes appeared in patch 4.40, with modifications occurring at both Spike planting sites and the central part of the map.
In patch 6.08, released in April 2023, the map was removed from the general pool and replaced with its complete opposite, the warm and sunny Bind. As stated by the developers, Icebox will be overhauled and is planned to return soon. While there is no exact return date, images have surfaced online of a possible map rework, with six or more positions being changed.
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