Valve has released a substantial update for Counter-Strike 2, adding new maps into the game for the first time in 2025.
The focus is on the introduction of weekly missions and five new community maps, of which Jura and Grail deserve special mention. Both maps originate from the renowned FACEIT x Mapcore "Big Adventures" mapping competition.
While the new missions represent a significant development for CS2, most of the discussion currently revolves around the new maps – especially Jura and Grail. These two community maps weren't simply designed by the community, but exemplify the level of the competition, which specifically focused on creative, thematically strong level designs.
We recently explored both Jura and Grail in-depth in a dedicated article about said Mapcore competition, praising their unique aesthetics, balanced layouts, and bold design philosophies. With this latest update, Valve has officially recognized their quality by integrating them into the Competitive, Casual, and Deathmatch map pools.
Weekly Missions: A new progression system
The update introduces Weekly Missions, a new system that breathes life into CS2’s progression model. Each week, players receive a new mission accessible from the main or play menu, rewarding bonus XP upon completion.Unlike prior mission systems that were tied exclusively to seasonal Operations, these new missions appear to be part of a long-term structural shift. Valve seems to be moving toward a more continuous content pipeline, potentially phasing out the rigid seasonal Operation format in favor of this steady drip-feed model.
Jura: A Modern Tactical Playground
Jura, with its mountainous European setting and sharp architectural contrasts, offers a fresh take on classic defusal gameplay. The map's layered verticality, clever choke points, and scenic vistas provide an atmosphere that's both tactical and visually striking. Its bombsite designs encourage smart utility usage and mid-round rotations, offering both casual and competitive players a deeply satisfying experience.
Since its initial debut in the Mapcore contest, Jura has drawn comparisons to legacy maps, not for its resemblance, but for how confidently it establishes its own identity. With official matchmaking support now in place, Jura is poised to become a fan favorite—and potentially even a competitive mainstay.
Grail: Holy Map Design
Grail, meanwhile, is nothing short of a masterclass in thematic design and navigational flow. Set in a weathered fortress riddled with ancient stonework and precarious elevation, the map balances open courtyards with tight indoor corridors. It creates a unique gameplay rhythm that challenges teams to control space methodically and reward high-skill movement and teamwork.
Grail is arguably one of the most “complete” community maps ever added to CS2, with impeccable visuals, clean callouts, and fluid sightlines. Its inclusion in this update is a moment of triumph for the map’s creators—–and a boon for players hungry for something new yet competitive.
Agency: A Hostage Classic Returns
Another standout addition in this update is Agency, the iconic hostage rescue map first introduced back in Operation Bravo in 2013. With its sleek, corporate high-rise setting and tight interior corridors, Agency has long held a special place in the Counter-Strike community
Now rebuilt for CS2 with Source 2’s enhanced lighting and environmental fidelity, Agency returns with the same high-stakes, high-tension gameplay it’s known for – forcing CTs to coordinate hostage rescues under time pressure while Ts set up layered defenses. It rounds out the Community Map Group alongside Jura and Grail, offering a diverse trio of match-ready maps that emphasize different gameplay styles.
They brought back the Agency map in CS2, but without the chopper pic.twitter.com/X9484mGyOO
— sniffs_ (@sniffoutmedia) May 7, 2025
More Map Shuffles
In addition to the three 5v5 maps, two new maps – Dogtown and Brewery – were added to Wingman mode. To make room, Basalt, Edin, Palais, and Whistle were removed from all game modes.
The new groups for Casual and Deathmatch modes are:
- Defusal Group Alpha: Dust 2, Mirage, Inferno, Vertigo
- Defusal GroupDelta: Train, Anubis, Ancient, Overpass, Nuke
- Community Map Group: Jura, Grail, Agency
- Hostage Group: Office, Italy
Under-the-Hood Fixes and Audio Tweaks
On the technical side, the update also includes various quality-of-life changes. Valve has improved audio behavior, including more consistent feedback sounds when engaging enemies through smokes and fixing bugs where gameplay sounds would skip or be inaudible. There’s also a new setting to control Main Menu Ambience Volume, along with cleaned-up console commands related to sound mixing
Additionally, some minor but meaningful bug fixes – such as one resolving issues with keyboard bindings and blocking lobby invites from muted Steam users – round out the patch
You can find the complete patch notes here.
What do you think of the update? Which of the new maps do you like best?