In a surprise update on March 4, 2026, Valve has made significant changes to Inferno's A-site — one of the most contested areas in competitive Counter-Strike. The headline change: Graveyard is closed. The once-crucial post-plant and defensive position has been barred off entirely, removing it from play.
Graveyard Removed
Graveyard at A-site has been completely closed off
Graveyard has been a staple position on Inferno for years — a tucked-away spot near the A bombsite where players could hide during post-plant situations or hold unexpected angles. By closing it off entirely, Valve is reducing the number of positions attackers can exploit after planting the bomb.
This is a clear buff to CT retakes on A. Defenders no longer need to clear Graveyard during retakes, which means fewer angles to worry about and faster site reclamation. For T-side players, it means losing one of the safest post-plant positions available.
Balcony Extended
The Apartments Balcony has been extended around the corner, creating more playable space
Valve has extended the Apartments balcony around the corner, creating a significantly larger area. This gives players more room to operate when pushing from Apartments toward the A-site, and provides additional angles for both attack and defense.
Notably, this is not the first time Valve has adjusted this balcony — it has been an area of ongoing experimentation throughout 2025 and 2026, suggesting Valve is still fine-tuning the optimal layout for competitive play.
Second Mid Window Boost Removed
The update also adjusted clipping on the small window near the second mid balcony. Players can no longer boost into the second mid window — it can only be accessed through the balcony itself. This removes a creative but potentially unbalanced position that some teams had been incorporating into their strategies.
Competitive Timing
These changes arrive during ESL Pro League Season 23, meaning professional teams are being forced to adapt mid-tournament. The revamped Inferno was immediately put into play during the final matches of Stage 1, giving fans a first look at how the changes affect high-level play.
Early observations from pro matches suggest that A-site retakes feel noticeably cleaner for CTs, while T-side teams are still searching for optimal post-plant setups to replace the Graveyard position. Some analysts predict an increase in B-site executions as teams adjust, though Inferno's A-site has historically remained the preferred target regardless of layout tweaks.
What This Means for Your Games
If you are an Inferno regular, the key takeaways are straightforward. On CT side, your A retakes just got easier — you have one less corner to clear. On T side, consider adjusting your post-plant defaults. Pit, site boxes, and the new extended balcony area all become more important as remaining post-plant options. And if your playbook included the second mid window boost, it is time to find a new trick.