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You Can Get These Skins for Free. The Best Skins from the New Ascent, Boreal, and Radiant Collections

- - — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:35:01 +0000

A change that hasn’t happened for a very long time and has truly become an unexpected surprise for the entire community. VALVE decided to update the weekly drop collections by adding 85 new skins that you can get completely free in the weekly drop! Traditionally, newly added items sell at inflated prices on the marketplace, but the main question is – how rapidly will they fall? Rumors suggest that VALVE has set quite low chances for rare drops, so significant price changes are unlikely in the coming months, but a potential decline is inevitable. Farmers are already rubbing their hands, but let’s move on to reviewing the skins that, in our opinion, are the most interesting.

P2000 | Marsh

The Boreal Collection

Factory new – $2.26
Minimal wear – $1.75
Field-tested – $0.97
Well-worn – $0.89
Battle Scarred – $0.77

Let’s start with the cheapest Industrial quality skin, which has a much higher chance of dropping than the others and might end up in your inventory with your next rewards. P2000 | Marsh stands out with its rich emerald color, inspired by swamp themes. The main advantage of this pistol is the rare glitter effect, where the pistol’s surface shimmers with sparkles when the lighting changes, adding aesthetic depth to the design. Golden accents on the details emphasize the elegance, making the skin appear much more expensive. P2000 | Marsh will be an excellent choice for those looking for a bright and affordable skin.

Glock-18 | Glockingbird

The Boreal Collection

Factory new – $46.01
Minimal wear – $26.96
Field-tested – $13.91
Well-worn – $9.98
Battle Scarred – $12.79

Many skins in this collection can be considered a continuation of another incredibly expensive collection, St.Mack, which made floral-themed designs associated with valuable items. This pistol combines bright green and yellow tones, and the surface is decorated with a pattern of leaves and feathers, creating the feeling that the weapon comes alive in your hands. Glock-18 | Glockingbird is perfect for players who want to stand out on the battlefield by adding a skin with natural energy to their collection.

AK-47 | Nouveau Rouge

The Radiant Collection

Factory new – $468.12
Minimal wear – $266.59
Field-tested – $130.54
Well-worn – $64.51
Battle Scarred – $44.00

This weapon seems torn from the pages of a vintage art album, with elegant curved lines and floral ornaments. The matte creamy-white background sets a refined mood, while the deep wine red adorning the barrel and stock adds luxury and passion. The golden filigree flowing down the body, like wild grapevines, creates the feeling of being in a garden next to a huge mansion. The aesthetics of this weapon are striking, and it’s ideal for those who value style and aren’t afraid to make a statement with elegance.

USP-S | Royal Guard

The Ascent Collection

Factory new – $65.98
Minimal wear – $37.61
Field-tested – $12.43
Well-worn – $10.38
Battle Scarred – $12.00

Another item with aristocratic breeding, but from a different collection. Its rich blue shade evokes associations with royal guard uniforms, while gold accents on the slide and front sight add grandeur and strictness. The black grip emphasizes the contrast, like polished boots under a uniform, and every detail looks as if it was hand-polished to a shine before a parade. A kill with this USP-S will be made elegantly and should be accompanied by the phrase “Minus one, gentlemen.”

M4A1-S | Glitched Paint

The Radiant Collection

Factory new – $94.37
Minimal wear – $46.26
Field-tested – $24.29
Well-worn – $20.29
Battle Scarred – $12.50

The paint on this M4A4 seems to have seeped through the code and arranged its own bug-fest right on the body. This rifle looks as if it was caught in the middle of a graphics upgrade and stopped halfway. Juicy purple, blue, pink, and yellow strokes overlap each other like visual artifacts from a glitchy VHS. The silhouette of the weapon remains the same, but visually it creates a false illusion that even it has changed. Not a bug, but a feature? Absolutely!

Glock-18 | Coral Bloom

The Radiant Collection

Factory new – $37.51
Minimal wear – $9.36
Field-tested – $5.49
Well-worn – $3.51
Battle Scarred – $3.85

Another pistol with a floral ornament that we couldn’t pass by, especially at such a modest cost in the first days. An attack with this Glock-18 will taste and smell like spring or… an old grandmother’s shawl. The design creates a nostalgic mood and gives inexplicably warm feelings. The juicy print with coral roses seems created for those who aren’t afraid to be noticed on the server. If you get one in your weekly drop, it will be hard to part with.

Desert Eagle | Mulberry

The Radiant Collection

Factory new – $154.50
Minimal wear – $76.15
Field-tested – $20.30
Well-worn – $23.43
Battle Scarred – $15.46

“Too beautiful to miss shots with.” Desert Eagle | Mulberry looks very cool, and it’s hard to believe that such an awesome skin can drop for free. The deep berry matte shade looks as if it was chosen from a new luxury brand’s women’s lipstick collection. If weapons were advertised by makeup artists, this would be the top-1 in their “must-have for everyday.” Among popular skins with various effects, Mulberry plays in its own league – the league of “expensive, stylish, fierce.” Different versions with sticker crafts have already started appearing online, but in our opinion, this skin doesn’t need an upgrade.

M4A1-S | Stratosphere

The Ascent Collection

Factory new – $214.45
Minimal wear – $140.00
Field-tested – $121.86
Well-worn – $59.77
Battle Scarred – $30.74

The rarest and only Covert skin in the collection, which will often appear on the marketplace after attempts to craft the AK-47 Case Hardened Blue gem. Because of this, the item risks getting an undeserved negative reputation, like the SSG 08 | Blood in the Water, although the M4A1-S | Stratosphere is quite an attractive skin. It has an excellent design with a space theme, which aren’t that common in CS2. The community has already found many ideas on how to make it even more interesting, for example, with Complexity stickers featuring the old star logo.

USP-S | Tropical Breeze

The Boreal Collection

Factory new – $24.26
Minimal wear – $16.40
Field-tested – $7.97
Well-worn – $7.71
Battle Scarred – $2.34

This USP-S looks like it just returned from a vacation in Bali. Foliage, tropics, a light breeze – in every texture, you can feel the scent of freshness and warm sea breeze. A gorgeous bright green color that will be the king of green loadouts, and all this can be obtained absolutely free! Simply bravo, VALVE!

AWP | Green Energy

The Boreal Collection

Factory new – $493.93
Minimal wear – $219.55
Field-tested – $124.83
Well-worn – $61.24
Battle Scarred – $41.02

An AWP with an aggressive neon style and an emphasis on an acid-green palette. The base of the body is covered with a bright gradient from lime to yellow-green, and on top, there’s an effect of electrical discharges and lightning, gorgeously combined with shiny paint. The design visually resembles old-school energy drink cans, where after one sip, your whole face would contract from the sweet-and-sour attack on your oral cavity.

AK-47 | Midnight Laminate

The Ascent Collection

Factory new – $209.06
Minimal wear – $106.73
Field-tested – $38.82
Well-worn – $25.92
Battle Scarred – $15.23

We conclude the selection with a stylish skin that looks good both in its classic version and in combination with various stickers. Social media is already filled with different craft ideas with this AK-47, and they truly deserve attention. The deep purple coating on the main part of the weapon and the blue color on the stock and handguard become a new “canvas” for implementing the boldest ideas. At the same time, the skin can be attributed to the traditional series of “laminates” and will satisfy the demand of old-school players who only recognize classic designs.

The post You Can Get These Skins for Free. The Best Skins from the New Ascent, Boreal, and Radiant Collections appeared first on Sih.app blog.

Shocking Transfer of Eternal Fire to Aurora: Reasons and Context of One of the Biggest Deals in 2025

- - — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 10:46:58 +0000

On April 5, 2025, the Counter-Strike community was shaken by major news: the entire main roster of the Turkish organization Eternal Fire, one of the brightest teams in CS2 at the moment, transferred to the Serbian organization Aurora. This transfer marked the end of an era and simultaneously the beginning of a new one. To understand the scale of what happened, let’s examine the reasons for the departure, the team’s history, the community’s reaction, and what lies ahead for them.

Eternal Fire: Symbol of Turkish CS

Eternal Fire was founded on August 13, 2021, by Turkish legends XANTARES and woxic. After various successful performances in mixed teams, these Turkish CS diamonds decided to start a project with an ambitious goal: to put Turkey on the map of the global Counter-Strike scene. The team developed by attracting various legends of the Turkish scene from the Space Soldiers era, while simultaneously building an academy and nurturing young stars like Wicadia, jottAAA, xfl0ud, and others.

Eternal Fire Fans: Enormous Support

Eternal Fire is not just a team – it’s a symbol of national pride for Turkish fans, whose passion for esports knows no boundaries. Their support was especially evident at major tournaments, where thousands of fans gathered for viewing parties across Turkey. At one of the most memorable events in March 2024 at the Grand Pera shopping center in Istanbul, more than 2,000 fans filled the hall to watch a match against Vitality. People in team jerseys, with flags and banners, chanted slogans and erupted in applause after every successful play.

Such viewing parties became a tradition. In cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, fans rented cinemas, shopping centers, and even open venues to cheer for their heroes together. At ESL Pro League Season 20 in September 2024 in Ankara, around 1,500 people gathered, and the broadcast of the final against NAVI attracted a record 50,000 online viewers for Turkish CS, despite the Twitch block. Eternal Fire CEO Furkan Guven noted in an interview with HLTV in March 2024: “Our viewing parties grow with each tournament. We want to show the world the power of esports and our fan base.”

Government Issues: Financial Difficulties

However, the successes on the server and in building a community were overshadowed by serious problems outside the game. In Turkey, esports, especially CS2, faced strict limitations. Legislation prohibits sponsorship from betting companies and various roulette sites, which sharply reduces team revenues. Authorities repeatedly threatened to block Steam due to advertisements for such platforms, adding uncertainty to the lives of players and organizations.

Cultural peculiarities also played a role. In Turkey, many companies avoid associations with CS2 because of the word “Terrorists” in the game, considering it a reputational risk. The situation worsened in 2024 when Turkey blocked Twitch and Discord due to disputes about content regulation. These platforms were critically important for streamers, players, and fans, providing communication and broadcasts. In October 2024, the organization made the forced decision to relocate to Hungary, but even this didn’t solve all the financial problems, pushing the team toward a radical step – the transfer to Aurora.

Aurora: A Bold Step Out of the Shadows

Aurora, a Serbian esports organization founded in 2022, had long remained on the periphery of the top CS2 scene. Their previous rosters showed decent results, but none could break into the elite. Most of the noise around the tag comes from the organization’s owner, Valery “L3rich” Kharitonov, known for his ambitious statements and who repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire a world-class team.

On April 5, 2025, the dream became reality: Aurora benched their Russian-speaking roster and signed Eternal Fire in its entirety. The rapidity of the announcement just hours after benching the previous roster suggests that negotiations had been ongoing for months and were very thorough. One of the popular Russian streamers, Shadowkekw, revealed on his stream that he had known about this deal for a long time and was supposed to announce it on his Twitch channel.

There’s no reason to doubt this because Aurora had just started a media story with another Russian-speaking streamer, StRoGo, a couple of months ago, inviting him to play for their team. At that time, it seemed risky and questionable, but now it’s becoming obvious that the former roster already knew about the upcoming changes.

Why Aurora?

The decision to sign the entire Eternal Fire roster is not just a strengthening move but an immediate transition to the elite. The organization immediately found itself in the top 5 of the world rankings and guaranteed slots at all tier-1 events in the near future, including the Major.

Also, Aurora will finally get their stickers, which not only fulfills the owner’s dream but allows them to recoup a lion’s share of their investment in the roster. According to some information, the deal amounted to between 2 and 2.5 million dollars, while the Turkish players definitely received improved financial conditions.

The "Kebab Incident" of 2023

Interestingly, the organizations had an unpleasant history of interaction in 2023 at the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: European RMR B. During a match, viewers noticed that Aurora’s tactical sheets depicted a kebab with the inscription “Turkish Food.” This moment was broadcast and caused a mixed reaction. Some Turkish fans and players, including woxic, considered it disrespectful and provocative, especially given the national pride associated with Eternal Fire. Others called it a harmless joke, comparing it to depicting pizza for Italians or sausages for Danes.

Aurora, facing a wave of criticism, issued an official apology, reporting that they had fined the “guilty employee” and transferred the fine amount to Turkish Philanthropy Funds to help those affected by the recent earthquake in Turkey. The fine amount was not disclosed, but many considered it more of a PR move than sincere regret. This incident added tension to relations with Turkish fans, making the transfer of Eternal Fire to Aurora an even more ironic twist of fate.

Community Reaction: Patriotism vs. Reality

Turkish fans, for whom Eternal Fire was a symbol of national pride, took the news painfully. On social network X, their reactions ranged from anger – “They betrayed Turkey for money” – to sadness – “Eternal Fire was our soul, and now it’s just business.” Some even called for a boycott of the new roster under the Aurora tag. However, some fans acknowledged that Turkey’s financial realities left the team with no choice and expressed support for the players in their pursuit of stability.

The global CS2 community reacted with interest and surprise. Analysts compared the deal to high-profile transfers in traditional sports, noting that a complete transfer of a top team is rare not only in esports.

What's Next?

For the roster, this will be a serious test: new structure, new leadership, new responsibilities. But this time, perhaps they have everything needed not just to compete but to start winning trophies. Their first attempt will be this week at PGL Bucharest, but they decided to skip IEM Melbourne 2025 to give themselves a break. In 2025, the team hasn’t missed a single event and has repeatedly mentioned accumulated fatigue. Perhaps this is also part of a new approach from the new organization, which is more accommodating and doesn’t intend to make players appear at every event.

The story has turned out to be very interesting, and it will be extremely fascinating to follow. In any case, the transfer will be a turning point in the players’ careers, where the outcome could be absolutely anything. It’s worth remembering that MAJ3R is already 34 years old, and XANTARES and woxic are not young either, so it’s not excluded that this is simultaneously a pragmatic transition from a financial perspective and an adventurous one from a career standpoint, hoping to lift the coveted trophy for the Turkish public.

As stated in their farewell post: “This is not the end — this is a new flame.”

The post Shocking Transfer of Eternal Fire to Aurora: Reasons and Context of One of the Biggest Deals in 2025 appeared first on Sih.app blog.

Complete Review of the New CS2 Update: Which Skins to Invest in and How to Recoup the Arsenal Pass Cost

- - — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:01:25 +0000

Developers released a major update for Counter-Strike 2 on April 1st, brightening up April Fools’ Day for the community. Many even needed some time to realize they weren’t victims of a prank after seeing the news on social media. Everyone also remembered trader xMercy’s bet, who promised to part with a sticker worth about $10,000 if VALVE didn’t release a major update by the end of March. According to American time, the release happened on March 31st, and surprisingly, the collector’s prediction came true at the very last moment. Let’s examine what VALVE has brought us and how to react to it.

Arsenal Expansion with an Abundance of Skins

First and foremost, the update affected the event that has been running since October 2024. In one of our recent investment articles, we wrote that “Arsenal” needed changes, and this prediction came true just a couple of weeks later. We assumed that VALVE would either completely update the collection or simply remove it from the game. The result was something in between, but we believe that the next step should be an update to the key chains, followed by replacement of the remaining collections. We also thought VALVE might introduce discounts on the pass, but the ticket still costs $15.99, and you can’t activate more than 5 at once.

Fever Case

Let’s start the review with the new container, which can be purchased for 2 stars, just like the Gallery case. In our opinion, the new case will be in high demand, and the main reason is the updated Shattered Web collection knives in Chroma finish. More specifically: Nomad, Skeleton, Paracord, and Survival knives received Doppler finishes (including Ruby, Sapphire, and Black Pearl gems), Marble Fade, Tiger Tooth, Damascus Steel, Rust Coat, and Ultraviolet. Already in the first day, people went hunting for rare Doppler phases, which many succeeded in finding. We’re sure interest in this case won’t fade for a long time, so they’ll be selling like hotcakes on the marketplace.

Besides knives, as a Covert weapon, we got the long-awaited AWP | Printstream, which became the fourth skin in the collection. Additionally, AK-47 | Searing Rage, Glock-18 | Shinobu, and FAMAS | Bad Trip also deserve special attention and will definitely be popular, at least initially. However, these items also left us somewhat disappointed, as they strongly resemble existing AK-47 | Wasteland Rebel, Glock-18 | Vogue, and the Hyper Beast collection. Perhaps the designers were following the template of the famous “No, I upgrade” meme, but we don’t appreciate that approach.

Train 2025 Collection and Limited XM1014

While a new limited item in the Arsenal was quite expected, the appearance of the updated Train collection was a big surprise. After all, the game already has skins from Train 2021 that never made it into a souvenir container from a Major. Returning to the novelties, it’s worth noting that they were much less impressive than the contents of the Fever case. The XM1014 design turned out to be original due to its dynamic pattern, but it’s a skin for a shotgun, which few people are interested in. And Train 2025 can only boast a couple of interesting skins.

We were most impressed by MP9 | Latte Rush and M4A4 | Hellish, but Glock-18 | Green Line and UMP-45 | Late Night Transit deserve special attention. First, the author of these items had a total of 4 skins accepted in this update, and second, the Glock-18 was initially in the workshop as a skin for the Overpass collection. The designer was playing with the passing train car on B-plant and called the pistol Glock-18 | Metro. Subsequently, the author simply repainted it green, and the pistol was added to the Train 2025 collection.

Weekly Rewards Update

The next important element of the update was the appearance of three new collections that drop for free each week after leveling up. Ascent, Boreal, and Radiant replaced the Bank, Italy, Lake, and original Train collections. For free drops, the new skins turned out to be extremely attractive and, we’re sure, pleased the majority of users.

The Ascent collection impressed with its blue-purple hues, where AK-47 | Midnight Laminate, M4A1-S | Stratosphere, and USP-S | Royal Guard will become true hits.

Boreal has a floral vibe and somewhat resembles the extremely expensive St. Marc collection. Here it’s worth paying attention to AWP | Green Energy, Glock-18 | Glockingbird, and USP-S | Tropical Breeze, which are perfect for green inventories.

Radiant attracted attention with AK-47 | Nouveau Rouge, Desert Eagle | Mulberry, M4A1-S | Glitched Paint, and Glock-18 | Coral Bloom, which will be in huge demand, and lucky ones will hardly want to part with these skins cheaply.

The Main Question - How Much Will These Skins Cost?

The new items can already be obtained and, interestingly, they aren’t subject to the sales block and are already available on the Steam marketplace. However, prices for rare items, as expected, are very high and definitely don’t reflect the real picture. The same extremely attractive Glock-18 | Coral Bloom received a Mil-Spec quality and in Factory New condition already costs less than $5. We’re sure prices for all collection items will decrease with each month and only serve a cosmetic function in the game. Therefore, we advise getting rid of these skins as early as possible if you get them in drops – after some time, you’ll be able to buy them much cheaper.

Which Items Should You Invest in After the Operation?

Moving on to investments. What to buy? We’re betting on the collections removed from the weekly drop: Bank, Italy, Lake, and the original Train set. Yes, there are currently huge quantities of them, but the big advantage of these collections is the presence of only one item of the highest quality, which is extremely convenient for crafting. Pay special attention to Bank, where the only top-quality skin – P250 | Franklin – is Classified, and its younger brother AK-47 | Emerald Pinstripe is perfect as a “filler” skin when crafting AK-47 | Case Hardened.

If you want to quickly recoup the operation cost, we recommend spending all stars on the Fever case and immediately selling it on the marketplace. For 40 coins, you can buy 20 cases, and there’s almost no doubt that from selling each case, you can make at least $1 in pure profit.

We also want to remind you about the Train 2021 collection, which has been limited for a long time, but now it can’t receive souvenir analogues. Hits like Glock-18 Gamma Doppler and USP-S | Whiteout won’t be available in any alternative versions, which automatically makes them rarer. Of course, they already cost far from cheap, but prices will only continue to rise.

The last prediction involves larger investments and is related to knives that received expensive finishes like Doppler in the Fever case. Now, pro players and various streamers will want to get something new and expensive, which means that Nomad and Skeleton will appear more often in the hands of many players’ idols. This will increase demand even for cheaper finishes of these knives, as happened with Stiletto, which was long uninteresting to anyone and called a “toothpick,” but then received a huge boost when it started appearing in matches on the pro scene.

Conclusion

VALVE has again achieved their goal and once again attracted players to games on official servers. But for how long? For example, you simply can’t get into the Casual 10v10 mode right now, as playing it has turned into pure star farming, where a round lasts no more than 10 seconds. Problems with cheaters haven’t been solved, and playing MM or Premier is truly uncomfortable.

In our opinion, we’ll see a repeat of fall 2024, when all the hype completely died down after just a month. The developers should focus on more global updates such as working on anti-cheat, adding new modes (Danger Zone), or operations with missions.

The post Complete Review of the New CS2 Update: Which Skins to Invest in and How to Recoup the Arsenal Pass Cost appeared first on Sih.app blog.

Who are The MongolZ? How Mongolia Rose to the Top of Counter-Strike 2

- - — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:43:00 +0000

Imagine a country where endless steppes stretch to the horizon, while internet cafes in cities buzz with the sound of keyboards. This is Mongolia – a place rarely associated with esports. Yet, from here emerged The MongolZ, a team that currently holds 3rd place in the VALVE rankings and 6th place on HLTV.org. Their story is more than just a record of victories; it is a saga of dreams, friendship, and perseverance, backed by the support of an entire nation. Let’s dive into how these players from Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan became the “Generation of Miracles” and why their journey inspires thousands.

The Beginning: From Failures to First Triumphs

It all started in 2013 when a group of young Mongolian gamers tried their hand at Dota 2 under the tag The MongolZ. However, two years later, they made a bold switch to CS:GO. Their debut on the big stage in 2015 was disastrous – they lost all their matches, and it seemed like the project was doomed. But the team didn’t give up. In 2016, they shocked everyone by winning gold at IEM Taipei, earning $30,000 and making the world take notice of Mongolia in esports.

The real breakthrough came later, in 2022-2023. At that time, Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren, Sodbayar “Techno4K” Munkhbold, and coach Erdenedalay “maaRaa” Bayanbat played for IHC Esports. They made it to the BLAST.tv Paris Major, proving they could compete with the best. But in mid-2023, they decided to return to their roots, revive The MongolZ, and form a new roster. They were joined by Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch, Ayush “mzinho” Batbold, and Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold. In the summer of 2024, the organization introduced the young players and called this roster the “Generation of Miracles” – and soon the world would see why.

Who They Are: Stories of the Heroes

bLitz – The Chess Genius with a Mouse

Garidmagnai was born in 2002 in bustling Ulaanbaatar. From the age of eight, he was obsessed with chess, a serious young boy defeating everyone in school tournaments and dreaming of big victories. This passion for strategy never left him. At 12, he entered a local internet cafe, where old computers hummed, and discovered CS. By 18, he was leading IHC Esports, and now, as captain of The MongolZ, he is the team’s mastermind. Interestingly, chess still holds a place in his heart, and he sometimes relaxes by playing Auto Chess in Dota 2.

Techno4K – The "Mom of the Team"

Born in 2003, Sodbayar also grew up in Ulaanbaatar. As a child, he was a restless troublemaker until chess duels with bLitz taught him to channel his energy productively. At 14, he participated in a local LAN tournament, where his aggressive playstyle immediately stood out. Fun fact: Techno is a huge fan of the K-pop group NewJeans and listens to their music before matches. He also has an unusual nickname – “Mom of the Team.” It started in 2023 when, after an exhausting bootcamp, he lifted his teammates’ spirits by cooking “tsuivan,” a traditional Mongolian noodle dish. The smell of food, the laughter, and the gratitude made the moment special. Since then, before every bootcamp, he’s in the kitchen. “If Techno is cooking, we will win,” bLitz jokes.

910 – The Sniper from the Countryside

Usukhbayar, born in 2004, comes from Darkhan, a quiet city 200 kilometers from the capital. There were no internet cafes or gaming scene, but that didn’t stop him. He traveled to Ulaanbaatar for tournaments, spending hours on the road chasing his dream. Initially, he wanted to be a Dota 2 star, but at 16, he switched to CS when he couldn’t find teammates. When he joined The MongolZ in 2023, he had only 3,500 hours in CS:GO – an incredibly low number for a pro player. Now he has just over 6,000, yet he wins duels against legends like ZywOo and m0NESY. He also loves football and dreams of organizing a match between esports players and Mongolian footballers. “CS is like football, but with a mouse. We run around, but on maps, and pass the ball – with grenades,” he says.

mzinho – The Young Prodigy

Born in 2008 in Ulaanbaatar, Ayush grew up in a family where gaming was a way of life. His older brother introduced him to CS when he was just 13. He adapted quickly, and by 15, he was already playing at a professional level, becoming the youngest on the team. As a rifler and support player, he often anchors positions, makes smart rotations, and covers his teammates’ backs with remarkable composure for a 17-year-old. His youth and talent have made him a true prodigy, widely regarded as the future of Mongolian CS.

Senzu – The Triple No-Scope Magician

Born in 2006, Azbayar is also from Ulaanbaatar. At 15, he attended his first local LAN tournament, captivated by the crowd’s energy and the thrill of competition. During ESL Pro League S21, in a dramatic comeback from 2:11 against G2 on Mirage, he landed three insane no-scope AWP kills, securing victory for his team. This highlight became a viral moment in the CS community, with fans calling on VALVE to commemorate it with an in-game graffiti. Another fun fact – his name is mentioned in a song by Mongolian rapper Rokit Bay titled “Blaavgai.”

maaRaa – The Man Who Holds the Team Together

Erdenedalay was born in the 90s in Ulaanbaatar. He once dreamed of competing on the big stage himself, but a hand injury ended his playing career. Instead of leaving esports, he became a coach. Since 2015, he has been with The MongolZ, and over nine years, he has become not just a mentor but the team’s backbone. His game analysis is meticulous, breaking down every opponent’s move like a chess master. His tactical pauses often help the team turn the tide of a match. “He never gives up,” say his players.

Their Biggest Triumphs

YaLLa Compass 2024: The first Asian team in 14 years to win an S-tier tournament. They defeated Astralis 2:1 in the semifinals and crushed Heroic 2:0 in the final, earning $200,000 and a historic title.
Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: Dominated the group stage, emerging as potential finalists. However, they struggled on stage and finished 5th-8th.
IEM Katowice 2025: The first Asian team to reach the playoffs of the legendary Spodek Arena. After beating Eternal Fire in the quarterfinals, they fell to Vitality in the semis.
ESL Pro League S21: Shocked the world by eliminating NAVI 2:0 in March 2025. Once again, Vitality denied them a grand final appearance.

Government Support: A National Esports Team

In March 2025, a unique event took place – The MongolZ were officially recognized as Mongolia’s national esports team. This was not just symbolic; the government provided them with salaries, diplomatic passports for easier travel, full funding for international competitions, and even a state-sponsored training center in Ulaanbaatar. Imagine: just a few years ago, these players were gaming in old internet cafes, and now they receive the same support as Olympic athletes.

The authorities commissioned graffiti featuring the team in the heart of the capital, and schoolchildren are now asking if CS lessons can replace physical education. Even the Minister of Sports stated: “The MongolZ are our ambassadors, showing that Mongolia can be strong not only in wrestling but also in esports.” For the team, this is a huge responsibility—they are playing not just for themselves but for the entire country.

Their Legacy in Mongolia and Beyond

The MongolZ represent more than just victories; they are a source of inspiration. Their success has ignited an esports boom in Mongolia. New teams are emerging in the country, many of which are now topping the Asian rankings.

For example, The Huns are already competing at BLAST Lisbon 2025, while ATOX and Chinggis Warriors are reaching the final stages of various qualifiers. In Ulaanbaatar, they are called “the new warriors of the steppe,” and it’s no joke – they have become a symbol of change.

The post Who are The MongolZ? How Mongolia Rose to the Top of Counter-Strike 2 appeared first on Sih.app blog.

Rumors of the Upcoming CS2 Update: Trade Protection, Custom Charms, and New Horizons

- - — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:17:28 +0000

Counter-Strike 2 continues to evolve, and the upcoming update, revealed by insider GabeFollower on social media, has caught the attention of millions of players worldwide. Among the key innovations are the introduction of a new category called “Trade Protected Items” and expanded customization options for charms via the Steam Workshop. These changes not only enhance the game’s security but also open new creative and economic opportunities within CS2. However, not everyone is optimistic—many traders are concerned that developers might be placing yet another obstacle in their way. Let’s dive into what this means for the community and how it could change the gaming experience.

Trade Protected Items: A New Era of Security or a New Type of Item?

In the latest update files, GabeFollower discovered lines indicating the introduction of a new category called “Trade Protected Items.” These items will be marked with the attribute “Attrib_TradeProtectedEscrowDate,” described as: “This item is trade-protected and cannot be used, modified, or transferred until %s1.” In simple terms, such items will be locked from any transactions—selling, trading, or modifying—until a specified date set in the attribute.

This mechanic isn’t new to Valve’s ecosystem. Dota 2 has had a similar system for years, where certain items receive a temporary trade lock upon acquisition, typically as rewards for completing Battle Pass challenges or similar events.

In one of our recent articles, we speculated about the possibility of Valve implementing a similar mechanic in CS2 and how it might impact the market. To summarize, we believe this will only increase the value of tradable items. We also have serious doubts that such restricted skins will be of much interest to the community. Let’s not forget that the current Arsenal update was designed with a similar goal in mind, yet players didn’t even need to complete special events—just play on official servers and purchase a pass, which practically paid for itself. Over time, however, players still migrated to FACEIT and other third-party platforms, even when there was decent money to be made. So why would they start chasing after ordinary cosmetics now?

This highlights a key difference between Dota 2 and CS2: in the former, players operate entirely within Valve’s ecosystem, while in the latter, they frequently move between alternative servers. Moreover, many CS2 players are interested in the game solely because of skins, and these players account for a significant portion of Valve’s active player base. No matter how much developers try to curb them, it’s unlikely they will ever eliminate them completely.

Despite this, it appears CS2 will introduce a parameter restricting item trading for certain periods. Most likely, this will be implemented as a new feature designed to protect players from scammers. Trade protection is already applied automatically to new or rare items, such as skins from fresh cases or operation rewards, to prevent immediate resale. One potential scenario is the introduction of an optional function allowing players to set trade protection on their valuable items. Imagine acquiring a rare knife or skin worth hundreds of dollars—you could activate a month-long protection period to safeguard it from theft in case of an account breach. This could be a game-changer for those who have suffered from phishing attacks or Steam Guard vulnerabilities.

While the exact details remain unclear, it’s evident that trade protection could be another major step forward in combating fraud. In recent years, the CS2 community has repeatedly faced issues ranging from inventory theft to mass bans of traders caught exploiting loopholes.

Custom Charms: Creativity Takes Center Stage

The second key aspect of the upcoming update is the expansion of the Steam Workshop to support custom charms. Charms, introduced in CS2 in 2024 as a new type of cosmetic item, quickly became popular. The ability to attach a small trinket—ranging from miniature weapons to fun figurines—to your gun added a fresh layer of personalization to the game. Now, developers are taking the next step by allowing the community to design and publish their own charms.

GabeFollower noted that the update files contained references to texture samples for the Workshop, confirming Valve’s plans to open this feature to the public. This means that any player with 3D modeling skills will be able to create a unique charm, upload it to the Workshop, and potentially see it added to the game after approval by the developers. This approach has long been used for weapon skins and other items, so it makes sense that charms would follow suit.

CS2 Economy: New Challenges and Opportunities

On one hand, trade protection will reduce fraud risks. Restricting immediate trading of new items will make them less attractive to scammers, who often rely on stolen accounts for quick resale. This could increase trust in the Steam marketplace and attract new investors, especially given recent reports that digital CS2 items are becoming more profitable than stocks and cryptocurrencies. On the other hand, traders accustomed to unrestricted, fast-paced exchanges may view these limitations negatively. Social media posts on X are already voicing concerns that trade protection will hinder speculation on new drops, particularly in the crucial early days after the release of cases or operations.

Interestingly, the CS2 market is already showing steady growth. As of March 2025, the total capitalization of in-game items has surpassed $4.3 billion, with skin prices continuing to rise. The introduction of new mechanics will likely reinforce this trend, especially if VALVE provides investors with even more ways to secure their assets.

Community Reactions: Excitement and Skepticism

As with any major change, the potential update has sparked a heated reaction within the community. Social media discussions on X reveal a wide range of opinions.

Some players welcome trade protection as a long-overdue measure:

“If this stops scammers, I’m all for it. I’m tired of losing skins to phishing.”

Others see it as a threat to trading freedom and express frustration:

“Why would I want a drop I can’t sell? This will kill the market.”

Skeptics also argue that Valve is focusing on the wrong priorities:

“Fix the anti-cheat first, then add charms. Where are the priorities?”

This sentiment reflects a long-standing grievance within the community: cheating remains a major issue even in 2025, pushing players towards third-party platforms or even alternative shooters. We covered this problem in one of our recent articles on “The Best Updates for CS2.”

Overall, the reaction suggests that players want Valve to strike a balance between new features and addressing existing problems. While trade protection and charms are steps forward, the community also wants to see improvements in performance optimization, anti-cheat measures, and perhaps the return of classic maps.

Conclusion

Trade protection promises to make CS2 a safer environment by reducing fraud and strengthening trust in the game’s economy. Custom charms, on the other hand, offer the community a chance to leave their mark on the game, expanding opportunities for creativity and self-expression.

Most importantly, CS2 remains a dynamic and evolving game, where new horizons do not threaten its legendary status but instead bring exciting new possibilities.

The post Rumors of the Upcoming CS2 Update: Trade Protection, Custom Charms, and New Horizons appeared first on Sih.app blog.

The Best Patch for Counter-Strike 2. Changes that Many Are Waiting for and Will Make the Game Better.

- - — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:54:37 +0000

Counter-Strike 2 continues to evolve, and the player community actively discusses possible improvements that could make the game even more engaging and fair. Many features we want to bring back from CS:GO or borrow from others, while some are fantasies of ordinary players and esports athletes. In this article, we will look at key proposals for improving CS2 that should satisfy the needs of most of the community.

New Anti-Cheat

Fighting cheaters remains one of the main tasks for CS2 developers. Despite existing VAC systems, some players continue to use prohibited programs, which negatively affects the gaming experience. Implementing a more effective anti-cheat, possibly using machine learning technologies, could significantly reduce the number of violators and increase trust in the system. It is reported that even after the implementation of the new VAC Live software, hackers still find ways to bypass the system, which emphasizes the need for constant improvement of protection mechanisms.

Interestingly, according to VALVE, they have long had a 100% solution to the problem, but it requires gaining full control over players’ devices. According to a cybersecurity specialist, Valve doesn’t want to make kernel-level anti-cheat to avoid collecting too much information about users. Many experts also say that such anti-cheat would negatively affect performance and could cause blue screen errors, as happens in Valorant.

Improved Matchmaking System

Fair matchmaking is another key to player satisfaction. The current selection system sometimes leads to uneven matches, where beginners face experienced players or smurfs, worsening the gaming experience. Implementing a system that takes into account the number of hours spent in the game and player skills will create more balanced teams. According to analyst Richard Lewis, with the release of CS2, an improved matchmaking system with similar functions was planned, which could reduce the need to use third-party services for playing. However, they turned out to be faster, and FACEIT once again took care of the players, adapting and implementing this idea before VALVE.

Regular Battle Pass Releases

The community has been waiting for more than three years for the release of an operation, which is absolutely unimaginable in Dota 2, where VALVE regularly holds various events. Yes, there is a nuance that most cosmetic items in Dota2 cannot be sold, but if there is a skin rental feature, why not implement something similar in the form of rewards for Battle Pass in CS2. You actively play on servers, and developers reward you with temporary items that disappear from your inventory after the event ends. Introducing such a mechanic can encourage players to stay on the official game servers and not look for third-party services where various skin changers are actively used. We could go further and issue some skins with “Cannot be exchanged” status, but then the value of items available for sale and exchange would disappear, which would hardly please players who have been forming their inventories for years.

New Game Modes

Adding various game modes, similar to “Danger Zone” from CS:GO, will enrich the gameplay and attract a wider audience that loved the shooting mechanics from CS but are fans of Battle Royale. Also, recently in CS2, a “Subway Smurfers” mod appeared, in which players can enjoy gameplay inspired by the popular mobile game “Subway Surfers.” This map is available for download in the Steam Workshop and demonstrates the potential for introducing new and exciting modes directly into the game. Developers could buy the rights to such products and increase online presence on official servers.

Returning the official “Retake” mode will allow players to practice skills in real game situations, which can significantly improve their tactical abilities and speed up adaptation in the game.

Convenient Training for Beginners

To attract and retain new players, it is necessary to create intuitive and effective training modes. These modes should teach basic mechanics, tactics, and strategies, allowing beginners to adapt faster and start enjoying the game. VALVE’s progress in this direction is already visible, for example, in hints and grenade usage training on the Train map. At the very least, it’s worth expanding the pool of maps where this will become available. One can also think about creating various training grounds where beginners will be explained how most existing mechanics work: how to learn to shoot, how grenades work (how many seconds they work, how they can be used), how the economy works, and much more.

Quick Mode. Overtime Play.

Such a mode was once even used on the pro scene, for example, at IEM Katowice 2017 in the match between FaZe and Immortals. This was done to decide who and in what position would advance from the group. The team that first wins four rounds out of six will be the winner. Thus, the confrontation can end already with a score of 4:2 or even 4:0, or it may continue if the first six rounds end 3:3.

Three rounds will be played per side. There will be no pistol rounds in the match, as each user will have $10,000 in their account. Such a mode will allow players to instantly move to gun rounds and will help separately practice playing in overtimes as training.

Adding New Types of Weapons

Certainly, from a global perspective, such changes will affect the usual gameplay, and adding them to official competitions or matchmaking is definitely not worth it. But if the use of various tactical devices on hostage maps is allowed, it will help return the classic mode to its former popularity. For example, the installation of cameras, tripwires, reconnaissance drones, shields, etc. will make the game similar to tactical shooters like Rainbow Six Siege, where the defense gets time to prepare for defending against an attack from the offense.

Conclusion

Counter-Strike has long proven that it is capable of evolving while preserving the spirit of a classic shooter. The main thing is for Valve to listen to the community and not ignore third-party developers and ordinary enthusiasts, but strive to improve their own product.

Ultimately, the development of CS2 depends not only on the developers but also on the players themselves who form the community and move the game forward. Therefore, despite all the difficulties, we need to criticize less and suggest more, so that some of the innovations described above become a reality. Will this happen? Time will tell.

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New record capitalization of skins at $4.277 billion. Are skins more reliable than Bitcoin? Let’s analyze what you can invest in in the near future.

- - — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 11:24:11 +0000

The skin market in Counter-Strike 2 continues to develop rapidly, confirming its attractiveness as an alternative investment instrument. According to Bloomberg, since the beginning of 2024, the value of digital items in CS2 has grown faster than the S&P 500 index, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. Recently, a new record was set – the total trading volume of skins reached $4.3 billion. If you’ve been following items on the marketplace for a long time, it’s not difficult to notice that they have been steadily growing in price not only this year but throughout the game’s history. This is especially noticed by people who return to their abandoned accounts after some time, check their inventory, and are surprised that some items are significantly more expensive than they remembered. If you’re one of these players, go to Steam to search for treasures.

The main price jump occurred during the transition to CS2, when all skins were transferred to the new version of the game, which marked a new chapter in the shooter’s history that will exist for a long time. There were also specific cases where some items began to look much more interesting with the transition to the improved Source 2 engine.

Currently, there are many different items in the in-game store, so we decided to reflect on their future value. Let’s try to think through several scenarios, based on the current situation and experience from past events.

Arsenal Operation Items

There are currently 66 new weapon finishes from the Arsenal update in the game. Three collections: Overpass 2024, “The Graphic Design Collection”, “The Sport & Field Collection” as well as the “Gallery Case.” While items from past collections showed serious growth some time after their completion, the current situation here is quite ambiguous.

First, VALVE does not reveal to us even approximate dates for the end of the event, which makes any forecasts merely hypothetical. Second, unlike past operations, this event has a modified item acquisition mechanic. Now you cannot purchase “stars” for real money, and developers, in addition to purchasing a pass, force you to play to earn in-game currency. At first, this worked well, but after almost half a year, audience interest has waned, and players have returned to FACEIT and other third-party servers. For this reason, far fewer items have been appearing in the game, and they are practically not dropping in price. So what will happen to them next?

Why the collection should increase in value:

Items still won’t appear in large quantities due to the lost interest of players. This means their already limited circulation will not change.
To bring back active users, developers will release new collections within the current Arsenal event, while the current ones will become limited.
Any other sudden termination of the event or closure of access to the collection.

What might prevent Arsenal event items from growing in value:

The implementation of a substantial discount on the pass, more specifically – how long this discount will be in effect and whether it will be able to restore player demand.
Infinite duration of the event. There are rumors that this is quite a realistic outcome.

Charms

Moving on to the newest type of items in the game. The community had been waiting for the appearance of charms for a very long time, but the reaction to the presented models was ambiguous. This item left no one indifferent, and made players either fall in love with or categorically reject the new accessory.

As for future prices, over time our vision has changed somewhat. Initially, it seemed that the ability to apply and remove a charm at any moment would completely kill all hopes for growth, but time has shown that their prices have not changed. At the moment, this can be attributed to the general trend of all skins from the Arsenal update, but we have a couple of additional arguments for why charms might become more expensive in the future:

Analogy with agents. They also cannot be used in crafts or somehow disappear from the game, which did not prevent them from significantly increasing in price. Although skeptics will say that a significant percentage of growth is associated with the general boost of all items after the transition to CS2.
The presence of rare patterns. It would seem that the collection is transparent, but almost every charm has at least four varieties that differ in color or other pattern change parameter. It turns out that there are even fewer items of a specific “type” than shown on the marketplace.

Stickers

Here everything is quite simple, and you can be guided by the experience of past stickers from operations. When a sticker is applied, it cannot be removed, so after each application, they rapidly disappear from the marketplace. Given the actively developing fashion for sticker crafts, demand for them is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. It is especially impossible to ignore the number of ideas implemented with stickers from the Arsenal collections, which makes their potential scarcity almost inevitable.

Shanghai Major Items

The tournament ended last year, but we can still purchase stickers and souvenir containers from any of the matches of the main VALVE tournament. In fact, everyone has already gotten used to such huge periods of access to tournament attributes, so this fact does not cause surprise.

The main question: what will happen to prices? Here, everything is extremely unpredictable, and it is worth delving more deeply into the number of purchased capsules and sets. But one thing can be said for sure – the design turned out to be completely unimpressive and barely distinguishable from the previous Major. Traditionally, it would hardly be a mistake to stock up on stickers of unpopular teams that are unlikely to ever make it to a Major again. However, you need to understand that the demand for these stickers is not so great, so don’t expect a huge profit from this investment. Many pay attentions to player autographs, considering that this time the developers made the signatures themselves more expressive.

As for souvenir packages, the best way to make money on them is to guess the map that will be next to be removed from the map pool. For example, the Vertigo container, after replacement with Train, has already increased in price by 30%.

What can you invest in on the marketplace?

Finally, let’s talk about items that have been in the game a little longer and which of them could become a good investment. To jump ahead, we’ll clarify that these items have already given their main boost, which is why they have already grown to far from small sums.

First of all, we’re talking about items from the latest operations: Riptide and Broken Fang cases, as well as collections: Train 2021, Mirage 2021, Dust 2 2021, Vertigo 2021, Ancient, Chaos, and Control. You can also pay attention to items from even older operations, but the main take should revolve around the fact that items have been removed from active drop. Thus, after numerous crafts, items from the collection will disappear, accordingly becoming more rare. The cost of such skins will definitely not decrease in any way, with the exception of potential risks that will affect absolutely the entire market.

IMPORTANT – all thoughts are subjective and not financial advice. Also, it is worth remembering that when withdrawing to real money, you should understand that the price may differ from Steam both in greater and lesser value. Therefore, with any manipulations with your items, be extremely careful, especially if you do not have enough experience and knowledge in this matter.

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Cache: A Legendary Counter-Strike Map Returned to CS2, But Unlikely to Be Added to the Official Pool

- - — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:20:05 +0000

Counter-Strike has spawned many cult maps throughout its history, but not all of them managed to remain in the active map pool until today. Cache is one of the beloved locations that often fell out of not only the competitive but also the official map pool. Now, a year and a half after the CS2 release, the map has received a new life and was added to the Steam Workshop. Let’s understand what makes it so famous, what bright moments have occurred on it, why it was removed, and why we shouldn’t get too excited about its appearance too soon.

Creation History of Cache and Connection to Chernobyl

The Cache map was created by American level designer Michael “FMPONE” Vasilek in collaboration with Salem “Sal” Garcia. It first appeared in Counter-Strike: Source but gained popularity in 2013 when its updated version was released in CS:GO and added to the map pool of esports tournaments. On November 13, 2017, the map was officially included in the active tournament map pool.

One of the key features of the map was its atmosphere. The action takes place in an industrial area in Eastern Europe, strongly reminiscent of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russian-language inscriptions, abandoned hangars, traces of radiation, and Soviet architecture all give the map a unique atmosphere. Fans even found similarities between Cache and the real Pripyat, such as the landscape with a Ferris wheel outside the game zone. The atmosphere of desolation is emphasized by rusty containers, peeling walls, and overgrown vegetation, which enhances the feeling of an abandoned facility.

In the updated version, everything became even more realistic, thanks not only to the author but also to the new Source 2 engine. However, the author made several changes that immediately caught the eye of many players.

Return of Cache to CS2 and Visual Changes

The map creator added an updated version of Cache for CS2 to the Steam Workshop and announced this on his X page. Improved lighting, reworked textures, and minor design changes made the map even more detailed and atmospheric. Visually, it remained true to its theme – an abandoned Soviet industrial facility with brick buildings, rusty containers, and peeling walls. Stained glass windows, old furniture, and an abundance of vegetation emphasize the desolation and create that recognizable atmosphere.

However, the updated Cache has its drawbacks. Lighting and improved textures can affect player visibility and performance. Some users report FPS drops of up to two times in certain areas of the map. Therefore, FMPONE continues to optimize the map, eliminating bugs and improving stability.

From the gameplay changes, the absence of a lamp on the B-plant immediately stood out, where the defense often took the terrorists’ approach to the point. Also, on the mid, the ability to climb into the window, which provided additional overview for the special forces, disappeared. Instead, a small gap remains, which allows safely throwing the necessary grenades. Perhaps the designer wanted to level the sides, as previously the defense was strongly prevalent on this map.

Legendary Moments. Why is s1mple's Famous Graffiti No Longer There?

Cache has repeatedly been the arena for incredible clutches and highlights. One of the most iconic moments occurred at the ESL One Cologne 2016 tournament in the quarter-final match between Fnatic and Team Liquid.

Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev single-handedly won the round by making an incredible double-kill with an AWP in mid-air, without aim (no-scope). This moment became so iconic that VALVE immortalized it with graffiti on the map, drawing a CT with wings and an AWP in hand.

However, in the CS2 version of Cache, this graffiti is no longer there. The disappearance of the cult drawing was an unpleasant surprise for fans, as it was part of CS history and a tribute to one of the most memorable moments of the esports scene. Perhaps Valve will return it in the future. FMPONE explained the absence of the graffiti with a desire to start from a clean slate and, despite community requests, is not going to bring it back.

Why Was Cache Removed from the Map Pool and Is There a Chance of Return?

Despite its popularity, Cache was removed from the competitive map pool in 2019. It was replaced by the reworked Vertigo, which caused an outcry among fans. The reason for removal was that the map required graphic and balance updates, as it had morally become outdated compared to new maps. Subsequently, it received an updated version but never returned to the main CS:GO map pool.

After the news of Cache’s appearance in the workshop, the community began to speculate which map might be replaced by this Chernobyl location. However, in our opinion, they are simply wasting time, as the reasons for the map’s absence since 2019 have not changed. The main takeaway is that VALVE wants to have complete control over the product and does not want to interact with authors as they did before. The developers want to obtain all rights to use the map, arguing this with the “ability to promptly eliminate various bugs and make necessary changes”. Even three years ago on Twitter (now X), the creator of Cache actively expressed dissatisfaction with this fact, but as we can see, VALVE’s course has not changed. The CEO of Complexity also did not remain on the sidelines and reminded the community of this nuance on his social networks and asked VALVE to openly give an answer to not play on users’ feelings.

The only thing we can count on is that VALVE will buy the map from FMPONE, and he will agree to give all rights to the developers. This was the case with maps like Anubis and Tuscan, and as a result of the deal, the authors received $150,000. Would such a sum satisfy the creator of Cache? The question is debatable. An even more controversial question is whether VALVE will want to buy the map from an author who has regularly expressed negativity towards the company.

The Coolest Skins from the Cache Collection

Galil AR | Cerberus — $22.31-$114.70. Souvenir — $44.62-$1135.41
MAC-10 | Nuclear Garden — $8.36-$14.45. Souvenir — $11.15-$43.66
FAMAS | Styx — $5.07-$23.00. Souvenir — $38.00-$141.31
Glock-18 | Reactor — $7.89-$18.07. Souvenir — $12.81-$15.75
Tec-9 | Toxic — $10.60-$13.80. Souvenir — $11.40-$78.78

Since we started talking about the Cache map, it’s time to remember the items from this collection. Like on most removed maps – souvenir versions cost more than classic ones, but during the map’s time in the game, enough of them have dropped, and these prices are likely not going to change for a long time. It will not be possible to get a solid profit from crafting, which means the skins will not disappear from the trading platform and will at most be lost in the inventories of abandoned accounts.

The main theme of the design of this collection was the image of skulls with applied radiation hazard signs, which strongly resonates with the Nuke collection. The only unique art can be considered Galil AR | Cerberus, depicting three heads of Cerberus with burning eyes and bared teeth.

Conclusion

Cache is not just a map, but a real legend of Counter-Strike. Its rich history, connection to the tragic Chernobyl story, iconic moments, and community love make it unique. Returning to CS2 will allow us to play a few nostalgic matches in a private lobby, but dreams of seeing it in top tournaments are still far from reality. At the moment, the most realistic scenario is to see the map in various show matches from tournament operators.

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Season 2 of Premier Mode in CS2. Overview of all updates and potential changes. Will there be a new VACNET 3.0 anti-cheat?

- - — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:20:15 +0000

We’re used to VALVE doing things their way, not paying much attention to the competitive scene. So it’s no surprise that in the middle of the BLAST Bounty Season 1 playoffs, the developers announced a major update. Next week, the first season of Premier Mode, which lasted almost a year and a half, will come to an end. All points will be reset, and participants will receive a commemorative coin. In this article, we cover the latest news and what VALVE has decided to keep behind the scenes.

Why did VALVE prepare the community for the announcement?

One of the biggest surprises was the announcement of the upcoming update — instead of the usual sudden changes that appear out of nowhere. There’s no exact explanation, but the community links this to the closure of access to certain game files.

“Counter-Strike developers have closed access to the dpr (developer pre-release) branch, so we won’t be seeing updates until their public release.” – Gabe Follower (insider)

Most likely, VALVE wants to become the primary source of any changes and avoid rumors during various tests. Opinions among players are divided: many disapprove of this decision, but the idea of sharing information about upcoming changes in advance has received a warm reception.

“There’s something pleasant about knowing what CS2 has in store for the next updates. I have something to look forward to, and I can already start thinking about how to adapt to the changes. A simple thing, like announcing changes in the map pool. Even if it’s just for a week — it changes a lot. Or am I wrong?” – STYKO (pro-player and analyst)

What will change in the second season of Premier Mode?

When the second season begins, every player will receive a commemorative medal to mark the end of the first season, which lasted a very long time. Many players had already forgotten about the promised regular resets of the rankings, which raised the main question: will it be a complete reset, or will past achievements (and possibly failures) still be stored in archives, not letting anyone start with a clean slate?

By the way, according to one insider, it was enough to have earned a rating at least once to receive the reward, rather than maintaining it actively. However, from the next season onwards, having a rating will likely become mandatory, as the developers have already shown a concept of medals in different colors reflecting the number of points earned.

Gameplay Changes

Now let’s move on to the more significant announcements that will affect not only Premier Mode but also gameplay changes: Train will replace Vertigo and will be available during the map pick and ban phase at the beginning of each match.

While the first news wasn’t surprising, the change in the cost of the M4A4 and FAMAS generated much more discussion. Moreover, FAMAS will get improved accuracy when shooting both standing and crouching, which should significantly affect the weapon’s popularity. Or maybe not? We think it will all depend on the final cost of the weapon because the MP9 is too good and often used in partial buys. The community immediately flooded the developers with questions about the updated prices for both weapons and received mixed answers.

The answer about the M4A1-S without a suppressor seems plausible (M4A1-S and M4A4 prices are equalized – $2900), but after a sarcastic screenshot showing FAMAS at $300, it makes you think. Nevertheless, we tend to trust the information about the M4A4, as it looks quite reasonable. On the other hand, it’s possible that it could be reduced to the price of the AK-47 ($2700) or, for example, the M4A1-S could become more expensive.

As for the cost of FAMAS, the developers are more likely to equalize the price with its counterpart for the attacking side – Galil AR ($1800). With every update, VALVE tries to balance the sides as much as possible, which is quite relevant for the reduced MR12 format, so such a buff for the CT side looks like a standard move in recent updates.

What will happen to the prices of FAMAS and M4A4 skins?

Just a few days later, an increase in demand for both weapons was noticed, and if the update proves to be significant, this demand may increase even more. Therefore, here are the best options where price and visual appeal are optimally balanced:

M4A4:

M4A4 | In Living Color (Field-Tested) – $6.48
M4A4 | Neo-Noir (Field-Tested) – $8.34
M4A4 | Desolate Space (Field-Tested) – $7.34
M4A4 | Tooth Fairy (Field-Tested) – $3.50
M4A4 | Turbine (Minimal Wear) – $4.05

FAMAS:

FAMAS | Rapid Eye Movement (Field-Tested) – $1.80
FAMAS | Roll Cage (Field-Tested) – $3.41
FAMAS | Mecha Industries (Field-Tested) – $4.79
FAMAS | ZX Spectron (Field-Tested) – $2.28
FAMAS | Valence (Field-Tested) – $3.19

What else can we expect from the update?

The community certainly expects that the seasonal changes will occur regularly and may align with the winter and summer parts of the professional scene. But most importantly, all game enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the addition of the new Anti-Cheat system, and according to insiders, there are certain indications for this.

Recently, developers have been regularly activating and deactivating different anti-cheat modules every few months, but in the last month, VALVE has started to enable all components at once. According to Gabe Follower, the results of this have been “extremely positive.”

How does the new Anti-Cheat work?

When a suspicious player is detected on a server, the VACnet bot connects and tracks their actions. It appears that the bot activates on both the server and client side, which may cause lags and reduced FPS for the potential cheater.

If the player continues to behave suspiciously for five rounds, they are automatically kicked from the server with a 24-hour ban, which significantly lowers their trust and restricts them to playing only with other rule-breakers.

“If they’re so confident in announcing the second season, it looks like we can expect the introduction of something like VACNET 3.0 along with the Premier Mode update.” – Gabe Follower

New Skins in the Arsenal Operation?

Aside from the gameplay updates, users are eagerly waiting for new content in the form of new skins. Recall that on January 15, 2025, the developers removed the limited Desert Eagle | Heat Treated from the store and did not replace it. The remaining items no longer motivate players to purchase passes and farm stars, so it would be nice to refresh the store’s selection.

But to be honest, we wouldn’t bet on this, as VALVE is probably relying on sales of passes with the new Premier season to drive sales.

Conclusion

Next week is sure to bring some surprises, and the biggest question is whether the developers will manage to make the changes before the start of IEM Katowice 2025, which kicks off on January 29.

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The Evolution of Train in Counter-Strike: Interesting Facts, Easter Eggs, and Iconic Matches

- - — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:40:22 +0000

The map Train holds a special place in the history of the Counter-Strike series, being one of the most recognizable and popular among players. From its appearance in CS 1.6 to CS:GO and its subsequent return in CS2, it has undergone significant changes, and in 2025, we will experience a completely different Train. In this article, you will learn about how the map looked in different eras, revisit iconic moments, discover interesting Easter eggs from past and current versions, and recall several legendary matches.

Train in CS 1.6

Train first appeared in Counter-Strike as a map set in an old railway depot. Its main feature was the abundance of trains that divided the space and influenced gameplay. Narrow passages, long sightlines, and a high level of vertical gameplay made Train one of the most challenging maps to master.

Key Gameplay Features in CS 1.6:

The legendary “B” bombsite on the upper warehouse with a train, where snipers often defended.
The “A” bombsite with tightly packed trains, providing a tactical advantage to players who knew how to utilize smoke grenades.
The Heaven position, offering a great view of the entire A-site.
The staircases, which were dangerous for both sides, allowing for ambushes or retakes.

Train's Overhaul in CS:GO (2014)

In December 2014, Train was completely redesigned to meet the more modern standards and requirements of the competitive scene. Valve took player feedback into account regarding the excessive complexity of the old design, making the map cleaner and more balanced.

Key Changes:

Object movement: Trains were lowered, improving visibility and reducing the influence of snipers on the round’s outcome.
Changes to A and B sites: Train cars were repositioned to create more cover and reduce attackers’ advantages.
Optimization: Unnecessary passages were removed, crawling under trains was forbidden, and the Heaven position was moved, making it less effective.
Graphical changes: The map adopted a more modern industrial style while retaining the Soviet atmosphere.

Train's Return in CS2 (2024)

Train returned in Counter-Strike 2 with a major update featuring improved lighting, textures, and new design elements. One of the key features was the addition of weather effects, such as rain, which enhanced the map’s atmosphere and improved the appearance of player models due to water droplets on weapons and hands.

Key Changes:

Graphical improvements: The use of the Source 2 engine made the map more realistic. Reflections and light effects were added, altering visibility and gameplay experience.
Weather effects: During rain, smoke grenades disperse differently, and footsteps become less audible.
Tactical changes: The size of the map was significantly reduced, and some positions were reworked (Heaven was completely removed, and the A-site was made more open. The upper/lower staircase was replaced with a long corridor, and the upper B-site entrance was blocked).

Iconic Matches on Train

SK Gaming vs Liquid – ESL One Cologne 2016 One of the most memorable matches on Train occurred in the grand final of ESL One Cologne 2016. SK Gaming defeated Liquid, and the Brazilian team won the Major title for the second consecutive time.
Virtus.pro vs Astralis – ELEAGUE Major 2017 This Major grand final marked the rise of Astralis as the best team in CS:GO history. The experienced Polish team Virtus.pro led 13-7 on Train, but gla1ve’s legendary round with a Tec-9 helped the Danes complete the comeback.
Gambit vs Immortals – PGL Major Krakow 2017 Gambit chose Train as their map pick after losing the first map in the grand final. Having previously defeated the legendary Astralis, the CIS team was expected to easily beat the Brazilians, but the match ended up being incredibly close.
Quantum Bellator Fire vs MOUZ – ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 The underdog team QBF made a stunning comeback from a 13-2 deficit, winning the second half 14-1 and advancing to the Major playoffs. The star of the team was the young BoombI4, who captivated the arena’s fans.

Interesting Facts about Train in CS2

Train in CS2 is filled with various Easter eggs and references, here are a few:

Reference to Viktor Tsoi and the band “Kino”: On a train near the B site, there is a graffiti with a crossed-out “Kino” logo and the phrase “Wish me luck,” referencing the song “Blood Type.”
List of map developers: On one of the walls, there are the names of all the developers involved in creating the new version of Train as a tribute to their work.
Picture of the old Train version: In one of the rooms, there is a picture depicting the Train from the CS:GO era as a nostalgic reference for long-time fans of the game.
Real phone number: A phone number on one of the walls leads to a delivery service in the Voronezh region, and it turns out the number is real.
“Respect the pigeons” graffiti: On a trash bin, there is a graffiti that reads “Respect the pigeons,” referencing a bug in CS:GO where players could fly on birds for an unfair advantage.
Music in the counter-terrorist spawn vehicle: Now, music plays from a vehicle at the counter-terrorist spawn, adding atmosphere to the start of the round.
Old Train slideshow: Near the B site, there is a computer playing a slideshow of images from the old de_train from CS 1.6.
Missing chicken ads: On the terrorist side’s bulletin board, there are posters in Russian about missing chickens. While chickens aren’t on Train, they appear on other maps like Inferno and Anubis.
Station names as map references: Opposite the bulletin board is an information panel with names of railway stations, which reference existing and possibly future maps in the game.
QR code to CS2 Steam page: Next to the station list, there is a QR code that leads to the Counter-Strike 2 Steam page when scanned.

Easter Eggs from Previous Versions of Train

“Popdog” area: The area near the ladder connecting the A bombsite to the depot building (upper/lower) is called “Popdog.” This is a reference to the original creators of the map, who named the area the same.
“Do not step on the birds” sign: Near the terrorist spawn, there is a sign referring to a temporary bug when players could fly on birds.
Vladimir Lenin mosaic: In the updated version of the map, a mosaic featuring Vladimir Lenin has been added to a building near the terrorist spawn.
Geiger counter: A Geiger counter is located at the A bombsite, adding to the atmosphere.
Radio playing TF2 music: In a café near the terrorist base, music from Team Fortress 2 plays.
Depot name: The depot building on the map is named “LESGORAD-1 STATION.”

Statistics and Popularity

Train has remained one of the most popular maps in professional play for many years.

Win Rate on Train (CS:GO):

Terrorists: 45%
Counter-Terrorists: 55%

Last Tournament

The last major tournament where Train was featured before its removal from the competitive pool was ESL Pro League Season 13, which concluded on May 3, 2021. After that, Train was replaced by Ancient and was absent from the competitive pool until 2025.

Conclusion

The return of this map to the competitive pool is a true celebration for the community, eagerly awaiting new legendary matches and highlights on their beloved map. The only question left is: Is Train ready for its return to the pro scene?

The post The Evolution of Train in Counter-Strike: Interesting Facts, Easter Eggs, and Iconic Matches appeared first on Sih.app blog.