BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: All-in-One Guide

3 Jun

Thales Costa

The biggest Counter-Strike 2 event of the year is finally here. The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 marks a historic return of Valve's premier tournament to North American soil for the first time in seven years, bringing world-class CS2 action to the heart of Texas. After years of European dominance in Major hosting, the competitive Counter-Strike scene returns to where it all began for many North American fans.

This tournament represents more than just another Major—it's a homecoming that promises to reignite the passion of American CS2 enthusiasts. With 32 elite teams converging on Austin's iconic Moody Center, fans can expect three weeks of unparalleled competition, featuring both established powerhouses and rising contenders hungry to etch their names in Major history.

Tournament Overview

Hapenning from June 3-22, 2025, the Austin Major represents a landmark moment for the CS2 scene. The tournament will take place at the award-winning Moody Center in Austin, Texas, with 32 of the world's best teams competing for a massive $1.25 million prize pool. This marks the first Major Championship held in the United States since the ELEAGUE Major in Boston back in January 2018.

The Moody Center Arena. Credits

The event promises to reach a global audience across over 150 territories and 28 languages, cementing its status as one of the largest esports events ever hosted in the United States. BLAST has partnered with Live Nation and C3 Presents to deliver a world-class production that matches the significance of this historic tournament.

Format and Schedule Breakdown

The Austin Major follows a four-stage structure that will test teams across nearly three weeks of intense competition:

Stage 1: June 3-6, 2025

The tournament kicks off with a 16-team Swiss bracket featuring teams that qualified through Major Ranking Qualifiers (MRQ). The format includes Bo1 matches for the first two rounds, with qualification and elimination games played as Bo3s. Eight teams will advance to Stage 2.

Stage 2: June 7-10, 2025

Another 16-team Swiss bracket combining the eight Stage 1 survivors with eight directly invited teams via Valve Regional Standings (VRS). The same Bo1/Bo3 format applies, with eight teams advancing.

Stage 3: June 12-15, 2025

The final Swiss stage features the eight Stage 2 qualifiers alongside eight more VRS-invited teams. Following the established format, eight teams will earn their spot in the playoffs.

Playoffs: June 19-22, 2025

The culmination takes place at the Moody Center with a single-elimination bracket where all matches are Bo3. There are no second chances—one loss means elimination.

Where and How to Watch

The Austin Major will be broadcast across multiple platforms to ensure global accessibility:

Official Streams:

Twitch: BLAST official channels (Stream A and Stream B)
YouTube: BLAST official channel
BLAST.tv website

Multiple broadcast streams will run simultaneously during the Swiss stages to cover all matches, with the main broadcast focusing on playoff action at the Moody Center. The production will sure feature top-tier talents of hosts, analysts, and commentators from the global CS2 scene.

Pick'Em Challenge Guide

The Austin Major introduces the traditional Pick'Em Challenge, allowing fans to test their prediction skills while earning exclusive rewards. To participate, players must purchase the Viewer Pass, available in two variants:

Viewer Pass - $9.99
Viewer Pass + 3 Souvenir Tokens - $17.99

The challenge revolves around upgrading your collectible coin through successful predictions across all tournament stages. Players can achieve Silver, Gold, and Diamond coin upgrades by:

Placing all predictions before each stage begins
Achieving five correct predictions per Swiss stage
Making accurate playoff bracket predictions
Correctly predicting quarterfinal, semifinal, and grand final outcomes

Strafe's Austin Major 2025 Stage 1 Pick'Ems (credit: Valve)

Each coin upgrade rewards players with one souvenir token, making strategic predictions both rewarding and engaging.

We have an hefty guide on who you should pick to qualify for the next stage. Click here to follow our Pick'ems

Souvenir Packages

Austin Major souvenir packages offer collectors unique memorabilia from this historic tournament. Players can obtain souvenir tokens through several methods:

Purchasing the premium Viewer Pass bundle (+3 tokens)
Earning tokens through Pick'Em Challenge coin upgrades
Redeeming tokens for exclusive souvenir packages from specific matches

These packages contain weapon skins with special tournament stickers and signatures from participating teams, making them highly sought-after collectibles that commemorate the first North American Major in nearly a decade.

The Austin Major 2025 features the new "Highlight Souvenir Package", click here to find out about the souvenir package. Also find an our all-inclusive guide for what souvenir package to claim here.

What to Expect

The Austin Major promises to deliver exceptional production values matching its historic significance. With 32 teams representing every major region, fans can expect diverse storylines and compelling matchups throughout the tournament. The return to North American soil provides hometown advantages for teams like Complexity, NRG, and Wildcard, while international powerhouses seek to claim victory on foreign territory.

The tournament's structure ensures maximum competitive integrity, with multiple chances for redemption during the Swiss stages before the high-stakes single-elimination playoffs. Each stage will eliminate half the field, creating increasingly intense matches as teams fight for their Major dreams.

Whether you're a longtime CS2 fan or new to the scene, the Austin Major offers the perfect entry point to experience the pinnacle of competitive Counter-Strike.

Don't forget to check out Strafe Esports for all the latests news about Counter Strike 2 and our X account for the latest content and coverages.

Also, stay tuned to the Strafe YouTube and subscribe to our channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier)

Pick’Em Challenge Guide: Counter-Strike 2 BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 1