CS2 Update — the new patch improves performance, interface, and gameplay in Counter-Strike 2

<p>A fresh update has arrived in Counter-Strike 2, bringing recent changes from the beta version along with several new additions and bug fixes. The developers focused on improving engine performance, optimizing gameplay mechanics, and refining the user interface.</p><h2>Engine</h2><p>The main engine code has been updated to the latest version of Source 2, improving game stability and performance. The bullet penetration system has been reworked to reduce CPU load. Load distribution between processor cores during particle and sound effect processing has been optimized, lowering overall CPU usage during intense firefights.</p><h3>Gameplay</h3><p>When defusing the C4, the weapon model now automatically lowers, aiming becomes unavailable, and there’s a short 150ms delay before shooting after the defuse is completed. The issue where the bomb could explode during halftime or after the match has ended has been fixed. Developers also resolved a bug where one tick was incorrectly subtracted from the sv_predictable_damage_tag_ticks parameter.</p><h3>Interface</h3><p>Major highlights can now be replayed directly from the equipment inspection menu when spectating a&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 player</a>. The selected player is now more clearly highlighted on the scoreboard. The inventory context menu opens next to the cursor for better accessibility. The fire mode indicator on the HUD has been moved closer to the ammo counter. A new visual improvement was also added — raindrops are now automatically removed from weapons when transitioning to a dry inspection area, making each&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins" target="_self">CS2 skin</a>&nbsp;look different depending on the environment.</p><p>This update focuses on enhancing overall stability and comfort for players, improving not only the technical performance of CS2 but also the game’s visual experience.</p>

Results of the first game day of CS Asia Championships 2025

<p>Shanghai became the stage for intense battles on the opening day of the CS Asia Championships 2025, as several favorites confirmed their status while some teams had to say goodbye right from the start.</p><h2>Key results</h2><p>Liquid confidently advanced to the playoffs. They defeated GamerLegion in a BO1 thanks to a strong CT side (8:4 in the first half) and then crushed MIBR in a BO3, leaving no chance for their opponents.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nertz" target="_self">NertZ</a>&nbsp;stood out as the driving force behind their victory, securing key rounds for his team.</p><p>Legacy also earned a spot in the next stage after a hard-fought win over 3DMAX in a three-map series.</p><p>Among those eliminated are The Huns, who fell to Virtus.pro in the first round of the Group A lower bracket, and GamerLegion, who lost to Lynn Vision.</p><p>Today marked only the beginning of the group stage. The double-elimination GSL format with BO1 openers already proved that there’s no room for weak starts — a single mistake can lead to elimination.</p><h3>What’s next?</h3><p>Liquid and Legacy will face off on October 16 for a direct ticket to the semifinals. The losing team will likely have to fight through the quarterfinals.</p><p>Stay tuned — there are still many decisive matches, unexpected twists, and thrilling CS2 moments ahead!</p>

CS Asia Championships 2025: Asia's biggest CS2 tournament kicks off on October 14

<p>On October 14, Shanghai will host the CS Asia Championships 2025 — one of the most anticipated tournaments of the autumn season in Counter-Strike 2. Eight top global teams and eight representatives from the Asian region will compete for an impressive $1,000,000 prize pool. The final is set for October 19, offering fans a week of intense matches, world-class analysis, and countless spectacular moments.</p><h2>Tournament Format</h2><p>The tournament begins with a group stage, with 16 participants split into two groups of eight teams. The system is&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/double-elimination-cs2-tournament-format" target="_self">double-elimination</a>, giving every team a chance to bounce back after a loss.</p><p>Initial matches are BO1. All subsequent matches are BO3, including the playoff qualification games.</p><p>Group winners advance directly to the semifinals, while teams finishing 2nd and 3rd go to the quarterfinals.</p><p>The playoffs use a&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/single-elimination-cs2-tournament-format" target="_self">single-elimination system</a>. All matches are BO3 except the grand final, which is BO5. A third-place match is also included.</p><h3>Participating Teams</h3><p>Group A<br>3DMAX, Liquid, GamerLegion, Virtus.pro, MIBR, Legacy, Lynn Vision, The Huns</p><p>Group B<br>paiN, FaZe, TYLOO, B8, HEROIC, fnatic, Fluxo, FUT</p><h3>Match Schedule</h3><p>October 14–16 — Group Stage<br>October 17–19 — Playoffs, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and grand final</p><h2>Prize Pool</h2><p>The total prize pool is $1,000,000, distributed among clubs and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 players</a>.</p><p>Player prizes:<br>1st place — $150,000<br>2nd place — $70,000<br>3rd place — $60,000<br>4th place — $40,000<br>5–6th — $20,000<br>7–8th — $10,000<br>9–12th — $4,000<br>13–16th — $1,000</p><p>Club prizes:<br>1st place — $250,000<br>2nd place — $100,000<br>3rd place — $70,000<br>4th place — $50,000<br>5–6th — $25,000<br>7–8th — $20,000<br>9–16th — $6,000–$4,000</p><h3>Summary</h3><p>CS Asia Championships 2025 will be the highlight of the fall season for all CS2 fans. Top teams from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, a massive prize pool, professional analysis, and the thrill of esports await viewers starting October 14.</p><p>Follow the matches, support your favorite teams, and prepare for one of the most exciting weeks in the world of CS2!</p>

Vitality crushed Falcons 3:0 to become ESL Pro League Season 22 champions

<p>On October 12, Team Vitality triumphed over Falcons with a convincing 3:0 victory in the ESL Pro League Season 22 grand final, proving once again their world-class consistency and strength in Counter-Strike 2.</p><h2>Maps and Match Flow</h2><p>The best-of-5 series required only three maps for Vitality to secure the win:<br><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>&nbsp;— 13:10<br><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>&nbsp;— 13:9<br><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>&nbsp;— 13:7</p><p>Vitality set the tempo early and barely allowed Falcons any room to recover. Despite several attempts to fight back, Falcons couldn’t withstand Vitality’s well-coordinated play and composure in clutch moments.</p><h3>Key Players and Stats</h3><p><a href="/en/players/mezii" target="_self">mezii</a>&nbsp;was the star of the grand final, delivering a stellar individual performance and leading the scoreboard throughout the match.<br><a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/flamez" target="_self">flameZ</a>&nbsp;made crucial contributions, especially in the closing rounds on Train and Dust2.</p><p>For Falcons,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;stood out, but their efforts weren’t enough to break through Vitality’s rock-solid defense.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This victory marks yet another major success for Team Vitality, reaffirming their dominance and consistency on the global CS2 scene. Falcons, on the other hand, can take pride in their first-ever ESL Pro League grand final appearance, proving they belong &nbsp;among the elite teams of Counter-Strike 2.</p>

ESL Pro League Season 22 Semifinals: Results and Match Overview

<p>The ESL Pro League Season 22 semifinals delivered plenty of emotions and intense moments for Counter-Strike 2 fans. Teams fought fiercely for a spot in the grand final, and two strongest lineups emerged to compete for the title.</p><h2>Semifinal Results</h2><p>Falcons vs MOUZ<br>In the first semifinal, Falcons displayed a confident performance, leaving no chance for their opponent. The team defeated MOUZ 2:0, showing great coordination and consistent aim. Falcons dictated the pace on both maps and deservedly advanced to the tournament final.</p><p>FaZe vs Vitality<br>The second semifinal featured FaZe Clan and Team Vitality — two title contenders. The match was intense, but Vitality edged out a 2:1 victory.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/mezii" target="_self">mezii</a>&nbsp;delivered outstanding performances, and both teams demonstrated top-tier preparation.</p><h3>Final and Expectations</h3><p>The ESL Pro League Season 22 Grand Final will see Falcons face off against Vitality. Both teams enter the decisive match in great shape: Falcons continue to impress with stability, while Vitality reaffirm their top-tier status.</p><p>The upcoming final promises to be tense and unpredictable — a clash of Vitality’s experience and confidence against Falcons’ aggression and teamwork.</p>

Spirit eliminated from ESL Pro League Season 22 after loss to FaZe

<p>Team Spirit have ended their ESL Pro League Season 22 run after falling to FaZe Clan in the quarterfinals. Despite entering as favorites, Spirit couldn’t secure the win, losing 2–0. On the first map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>, FaZe showed impressive form, taking a 13–9 victory. On&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>, Spirit tried to recover, but FaZe once again dominated, closing the map 13–5.<br>In other quarterfinals, MOUZ defeated Natus Vincere 2–1, winning&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>&nbsp;after losing&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-ancient" target="_self">Ancient</a>. Falcons also advanced to the semifinals, taking down 3DMAX 2–1.<br>As a result, the semifinals will feature MOUZ vs Falcons and FaZe vs the winner of FURIA vs Vitality. These matches promise intense and unpredictable action.</p>

The group stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 has concluded

<p>The ESL Pro League Season 22 group stage has officially concluded, revealing all the teams that made it to the playoffs. The tournament followed a Swiss format, with every team playing until three wins or three losses.</p><p>The strongest teams of the stage were Falcons and Team Spirit, both finishing with a clean 3-0 record. Neither dropped a single map, confidently outplaying their opponents. Team Spirit’s prodigy&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;once again impressed with his crisp aim and one of the highest ratings of the entire event.</p><p>Right behind them came Vitality, MOUZ, and FURIA, who secured playoff spots with a 3-1 record. Each team suffered only one loss but largely controlled their games throughout the stage.</p><p>The final playoff qualifiers were FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, and 3DMAX, who scraped through with a tight 3-2 scoreline. FaZe and NaVi had to fight until the very end — clutch rounds from ropz and b1t proved decisive — while 3DMAX became one of the biggest surprises of the event, reaching the playoffs for the first time.</p><p>As for the eliminated squads, Astralis and GamerLegion left the tournament without a single win (0-3). Both lineups struggled heavily, even on their comfort maps, marking a disappointing run — especially for Astralis, whose form remains a concern.</p><p>Gentle Mates, Inner Circle, and HOTU finished 1-3, managing to steal a map or two but ultimately falling short against stronger opponents.</p><p>Finally, Aurora, The MongolZ, and G2 Esports suffered heartbreaking eliminations at 2-3. Each was one match away from advancing but couldn’t close out crucial series. G2’s early exit, in particular, came as one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.</p><h2>The playoff quarterfinal matchups are as follows</h2><p>3DMAX vs Falcons</p><p>MOUZ vs Natus Vincere</p><p>Team Spirit vs FaZe Clan</p><p>FURIA vs Vitality</p><p>Players are already gearing up for the decisive phase, and all signs point to the ESL Pro League Season 22 playoffs being among the most intense in recent memory.</p>

The MongolZ fail to reach the playoffs for the first time in 5 months and are eliminated from ESL Pro League Season 22

<p>A real sensation occurred during the group stage of the current CS2 tournament — The MongolZ, who had consistently reached the playoffs at international events over the past five months, were eliminated after the group phase.</p><p>The match was intense from start to finish. On the first map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>, NaVi displayed a dominant performance, controlling key positions and managing their economy perfectly. The second map started with an aggressive push from the Mongolian squad, but Natus Vincere quickly adapted, tightened their defense, and closed the series with a 2:0 victory.</p><p>For The MongolZ, this marks their first disappointing result in recent months. Previously, they had shown remarkable consistency and established themselves as one of the teams capable of challenging top-tier opponents. This time, however, they lacked precision and composure in clutch moments.</p><p>As for NaVi, this win served as a long-awaited sign of improvement. After a streak of underwhelming performances and inconsistent results in recent months, the team finally demonstrated cohesion and confidence. The strong individual form of key players played a major role, helping NaVi regain control and secure a well-deserved victory.</p>

Rain leaves FaZe: the end of a long era

<p>Håvard “<a href="/en/players/rain" target="_self">rain</a>” Nygaard has officially left the active roster of FaZe Clan after nearly a decade with the organization.</p><h2>Career length and achievements</h2><p>Rain joined FaZe in January 2016 and remained in the lineup until September 2025 — 3,541 days in total.</p><p>This became a record for the longest tenure of a single player on one team in CS:GO history. By April 2024, he had already surpassed Jonathan “<a href="/en/players/elige" target="_self">EliGE</a>” Jablonowski’s mark of 3,014 days with Liquid.</p><p>Throughout his career, rain played over 2,160 maps.</p><p>With FaZe, he claimed victories at major tournaments, including PGL Major Antwerp 2022 — where he was named MVP — as well as IEM Katowice 2022 and IEM Cologne 2022.</p><h3>Reasons and circumstances of departure</h3><p>Rain explained his decision by pointing to several factors:</p><p>He expressed dissatisfaction with FaZe’s management structure, citing corporate control and disputed revenue distribution.</p><p>He also revealed that one of the former members of the organization faced serious misconduct accusations, and he could no longer remain silent.</p><p>Following his statements, public disputes erupted within FaZe: representatives denied parts of the accusations and named individuals, while those involved rejected all claims.</p><p>It is important to note that these allegations have not been legally confirmed and remain at the level of public accusations.</p><p>Even before his official departure, rain missed several tournaments for personal reasons. For example, at IEM Dallas 2025 he was replaced by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/skullz" target="_self">skullz</a>.</p><h3>Legacy and significance</h3><p>Rain became a symbol of stability in FaZe — a rare case in esports where a player spends almost 10 years with one organization.</p><p>His record tenure in one team may remain unbroken for many years.</p><p>Even during FaZe’s weaker results in 2025, the team continued to rely on his experience and leadership.</p><p>Interestingly, back in 2020, rain considered leaving FaZe to form a Norwegian roster of his own, but he stayed after&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/karrigan" target="_self">karrigan</a>’s return.</p><h3>What’s next?</h3><p>The player himself has stated that his career is not over and he is open to offers from other teams in any role. Fans now await news about the next chapter for the Norwegian star.</p>

GenOne strengthens roster with NBK-, Djoko, and misutaaa ahead of DraculaN Season 2

<p>GenOne has revealed a revamped roster, already called the organization’s largest project to date. The team includes notable French players: Nathan "<a href="/en/players/nbk" target="_self">NBK-</a>" Schmitt, formerly of Vitality and Falcons; Kévin "<a href="/en/players/misutaaa" target="_self">misutaaa</a>" Rabier; and former 3DMAX entry Thomas "<a href="/en/players/djoko" target="_self">Djoko</a>" Pavoni. The roster will make its official LAN debut in the group stage of DraculaN Season 2.</p><p>Two members from the previous lineup remain: Hugo "<a href="/en/players/brooxsy" target="_self">Brooxsy</a>" Di Bono returns to GenOne for the third time since his debut in 2021, and Belgian Jordan "<a href="/en/players/chucky" target="_self">Chucky</a>" Molnar remains the only non-French player, maintaining a steady 1.21 rating since May.</p><p>Leading the five will be coach Damien "wasiNk" Dufour, who played briefly for GenOne in 2022–2023 before moving to coaching and later captained 3DMAX from March 2024 to June 2025.</p><p>GenOne has been placed in Group A for DraculaN Season 2, where they will face Lazer Cats, way2go, and BASEMENT BOYS.</p><p>Current GenOne roster:</p><p>Nathan "NBK-" Schmitt</p><p>Thomas "Djoko" Pavoni</p><p>Kévin "misutaaa" Rabier</p><p>Hugo "Brooxsy" Di Bono</p><p>Jordan "Chucky" Molnar<br>Coach: Damien "wasiNk" Dufour</p>