en
Latest Counter-Strike 2 Update Introduces Austin Major 2025 Pick'Em and Cache Return
The latest update to the game not only introduces the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em Challenge and stickers, but also confirms the return of the fan-favorite map, Cache.
Austin Major Pick'Em Challenge Is Here!
Wild West-Themed Pick’Em Challenge, Player Autographs, Team Stickers, and More
The update introduces the much-awaited BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em Challenge, arriving with a wild-west theme, player autographs, team stickers, and more. Players can now buy the Viewer Pass for around $10 to start playing the challenge. Stay tuned on Strafe for a detailed stage-by-stage Pick’Em guide.
Additionally, Legends, Challengers, and Contenders team and player autograph sticker capsules are now available for purchase.
Cache Is Back (Soon)
While the Pick’Em update is massive, the next piece of news is even better. With the latest update, Cache has been spotted in the game files, meaning the map is now with Valve and could be added to the game in the coming months.
The return is further confirmed by FMPONE, the creator of Cache, who confirmed that the map has been purchased by Valve.
FMPONE was initially hesitant about selling Cache to Valve, but the community’s cries to have their favorite map added to the game seem to have changed the creator’s mind.
Cache: Release Date and Expectations
The transaction of the map is just the starting point. The reworked Cache had several optimization issues, and Valve will first fix these before officially releasing the map. Additionally, they may tweak the map to align with how they want it to be played, which could further delay the release.
Depending on how the community reacts to the transaction, Valve might fast-track Cache’s development and release it soon to the Competitive, Deathmatch, and Casual game modes. However, Cache won’t be part of the map pool change expected to come after the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.
For now, Counter-Strike fans can sleep peacefully. In just a month, Valve has shipped six updates—adding new maps, making missions a permanent feature, fixing multiple issues, and essentially elevating the player experience. The immediate future of the game looks bright too: Cache is returning, a night version of Anubis is on the horizon, a potential co-op PvE mode has been spotted in the game files, and a Premier map pool change is expected after the Major.
If Valve continues to deliver, it is safe to say Counter-Strike is back!!!
For the latest CS2 news and guides, follow Strafe Esports. Also, check out our X account for real-time content and coverage.
Featured Image Credit: Valve
Read More:
Austin Major Fumble: BLAST Can't Justify Kicking Bestia Anymore
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Format, Schedule, Teams, and More