VALORANT Act 5: Icebox fans mourn as Abyss makes its comeback

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In simple terms, VALORANT’s Act 5 begins on August 19, accompanied by Patch 11.04. This means that the map Abyss is back in the competitive mode, replacing Icebox which will no longer be part of the rotation.

For Act 5 of VALORANT, those who disliked Icebox will be pleased to know that it’s being replaced in the competitive map rotation. In its place, Abyss returns, featuring even more opportunities for players to fall out of the map.

VALORANT Act 5

You’ve got four weeks left before the next map rotation; make sure to enjoy the frozen map during that time since it will no longer be in the competitive scene once Act 5 begins. In its place, Abyss will enter the ranked pool as Icebox exits. VALORANT has announced that this change will take effect with patch notes 11.04 on August 19.

Unreal Engine 5

In VALORANT Act 5, Icebox is out and Abyss is back in competitive play, stirring things up significantly. However, that’s not all – Riot Games is moving VALORANT to the Unreal Engine 5, a real-time 3D creation platform by Epic Games, used for games, films, and interactive experiences. This engine upgrade brings about substantial changes, leading to the skipping of Patch Notes 11.01, with all upcoming alterations being incorporated into the upcoming 11.02 patch instead. The details on these changes will be revealed on July 29.

Currently, this technology doesn’t impact anything significantly, as confirmed by Anna Donlon, Senior Vice President and Head of VALORANT Studios in October 2024. Nevertheless, the primary objective is to enhance the visual quality of the game. As she stated, “Although I envision people expressing a lot of positive opinions about the game, it’s not likely that ‘graphically superior’ would be one of them.

After the VALORANT Esports World Cup 2025 has concluded, the excitement doesn’t end there! The final stage is now beginning, leading up to the VALORANT Champions Tour. Already, all regions are in action, so don’t forget to catch the action on the official streams and broadcasts.

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2025-07-21 21:10