Valve has announced a major shakeup to the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) competitive map pool, revealing that Train will replace Vertigo in the active duty rotation. This update means that the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major will mark the iconic map’s return to top-tier play after years of absence.
Train was originally removed from the active duty map pool in May 2021 to make way for Ancient. Since then, it has been unavailable in CS2 until a long-awaited rework was released in November 2024.
Fans of the classic map will notice that, while Train retains most of its signature layout, several key changes have been made. For instance, the Pop Dog ladder has been removed, and the pathway from Ivy to A has been partially rerouted, presenting fresh tactical opportunities and challenges.
The "Smoke Dome" of Vertigo is gone!
The addition of Train comes at the expense of Vertigo, which has had a polarizing presence in the CS2 map pool. Introduced to the active duty roster in 2019, at the expense of Cache, Vertigo faced a mixed reception from the Counter-Strike community. Despite numerous updates and tweaks by Valve to improve gameplay balance and flow, the map struggled to gain universal acceptance, especially among professional teams. Vertigo often ended up as a "perma ban" in competitive play, making its removal a significant shift for the Tier 1 scene.
Valve broke the news in a single, succinct tweet:
Good morning. @BLASTtv Austin Major:+Train-Vertigo
— CS2 (@CounterStrike) January 6, 2025
The change isn’t just confined to professional players, either. In CS2’s Premier Mode – featuring an actual map veto – only active duty maps are available, meaning Vertigo will no longer be an option in it. Casual players who wish to continue playing the skyscraper-themed map will need to turn to the classic matchmaking queue, where all maps remain accessible 1 by 1.
Beyond this, there has been no further communication from the developer, leaving the Counter-Strike community buzzing with speculation and anticipation. However, professional players have already started reacting to the news. G2’s star AWPer, Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, confirmed on Telegram that the map is set to be played at the upcoming BLAST Bounty event, set to kick off next week. This event will offer fans an early glimpse of how the updated Train performs in competitive scenarios.
The reintroduction of Train is poised to significantly alter the professional Counter-Strike landscape. Many teams have relied on Vertigo as their default perma ban in tournaments, allowing them to focus their preparations on other maps. With Train now in the rotation, teams will need to reevaluate their strategies and potentially dedicate significant practice time to mastering the map.
Train’s long-standing reputation as a tactically demanding map is likely to influence this process. With its intricate chokepoints, verticality, and reliance on coordinated utility use, Train has traditionally been a favorite for teams with strong strategic depth and well-coordinated executions. The rework’s subtle changes, such as the altered Pop Dog area and other revamped paths, could also introduce new dynamics that will challenge even seasoned Train veterans.
The likely new G2 player Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko shared his thoughts on the shuffle:
What do you think about +train -vertigo ?I think it can be cool , but valve should update the map a bit more and can be crazyyyyyyyyy
— HeavyGod (@HeavyGodCS) January 6, 2025
M80's Mason "Lake" Sanderson was less enthusiastic about the change:
Everyone saying thank god for train, that shit is NOT better than vertigo rn. Needs some updates desperately
— M80 Lake (@LakeCS1) January 6, 2025
For now, it will be crucial for teams to play the map and allow Valve to potentially further tweak it. Looking ahead, the BLAST.tv Austin Major, scheduled for June 2025, will be the point of time where Train will have to be right.
Until then, teams, analysts, and fans alike will closely monitor how the reworked map influences gameplay and strategies. Given its storied history and the excitement surrounding its reintroduction, Train’s comeback has the potential to reinvigorate the competitive map pool while offering fresh challenges to players at all levels.
With Train stepping back into the spotlight and Vertigo bidding farewell, the CS2 map pool enters 2025 with a renewed sense of anticipation and evolution. Whether Train’s return will capture the hearts of players and fans remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Counter-Strike 2 continues to keep its community on their toes.
