Train to Replace Vertigo at Austin Major

The first Major of 2025 will feature an updated map pool.

Valve has announced that Train will replace Vertigo at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, marking Train’s return to CS2 Majors for the first time since 2019.

Train CS2 was removed from the active duty map pool in May 2021 to make room for Ancient. After the release of Counter-Strike 2, the map was temporarily unavailable but made a comeback with a rework in November 2024.

While Train has retained its recognizable structure, the rework introduced significant changes, such as the removal of the ladder in Pop Dog and a partially rerouted path from Ivy to site A.

The addition of Train means Vertigo in CS2 will leave the active duty pool. Despite numerous updates made by Valve since Vertigo was introduced to CS2 in 2019, the map has elicited mixed reactions from the Counter-Strike community.

Let’s take a moment to recall some players who showcased stellar performances on this map during the CS:GO era, still competing today, and who could deliver masterful gameplay:

1. Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev
2. Nicolai "device" Reedtz
3. Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo
4. Aleksi "allu" Jalli
5. Ladislav "GuardiaN" Kovács

At the Shanghai Major, Vertigo was played only three times in the elimination stage and not a single time during the playoffs, as many top teams opted to ban the map outright.

Valve has not specified the exact date for the map rotation, but their announcement confirmed that the change will take effect by the start of the BLAST.tv Austin Major.