CS2 in 2025: The 10 Biggest Stories That Shaped the Year (Ranked)

The 2025 season marked the moment Counter-Strike 2 truly defined itself.
With two historic Majors, Valve’s overhaul of the qualification system, major map pool changes, and Team Vitality’s era-defining dominance, CS2 completed its transition from successor to standard-bearer.

Here are the 10 biggest CS2 stories of 2025, ranked by competitive and ecosystem impact.

1. Team Vitality Win Both CS2 Majors in 2025

Team Vitality closed the year by winning the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, defeating FaZe Clan 3–1 in CS2’s first-ever Major best-of-five grand final. The victory completed a rare double-Major season, cementing Vitality as the defining team of the year.

Following the win, ZywOo told HLTV:

“I have no words to describe this feeling… Back-to-back Majors… it’s an incredible moment for us.”

Why it matters:
Winning two Majors in a single CS2 season places Vitality among the most dominant teams in Counter-Strike history.

2. Austin Major 2025 Introduces the First 32-Team CS2 Major

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 became the first Major in Counter-Strike history to feature 32 teams. Vitality claimed the title after a 2–1 win over The MongolZ, who became the first Asian team ever to reach a Major final.

Valve published the championship recap on the official Counter-Strike website, highlighting the expanded format as a milestone for global competition.

Why it matters:
The 32-team Major format significantly increased regional representation and reshaped expectations for future Majors.

3. ZywOo Makes History With a Third Major MVP Award

ZywOo’s 2025 season reached historic levels when he earned his third Major MVP, awarded after the Budapest Major. According to HLTV, this achievement placed him in a category reached by very few players in Counter-Strike history.

Why it matters:
Multiple Major MVPs across different eras underline ZywOo’s long-term dominance at the highest level.

4. Valve Cancels MRQs and Fully Adopts VRS Invites

Ahead of the Budapest Major, Valve canceled Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQs) and invited all teams using Valve Regional Standings (VRS). The decision fundamentally changed how teams qualified for Majors.

Why it matters:
VRS rewards long-term consistency over short qualification events, altering roster strategies, scheduling, and tournament priorities.

5. Vitality Complete the ESL Grand Slam at IEM Melbourne

Vitality also won IEM Melbourne 2025, completing the ESL Grand Slam and earning an additional $1,000,000 bonus.

After the win, ZywOo told HLTV:

“I won’t say we didn’t believe, but the chances were really small—and we did it.”

Why it matters:
Completing the Grand Slam alongside two Major titles made Vitality’s 2025 season one of the strongest ever recorded.

6. CS2 Map Pool Changes Reshape the Meta

Valve and tournament organizers introduced multiple key map changes in 2025:

• Train replaced Vertigo in the active duty map pool for top-tier competition

• Overpass replaced Anubis with the launch of Premier Season 3

HLTV also reported accompanying CT-side economy and utility adjustments.

Why it matters:
Map pool changes forced teams to rebuild playbooks and contributed to noticeable meta shifts throughout the year.

7. Budapest Major Final Delivers a Defining Emotional Moment

HLTV’s live coverage of the Budapest Major captured a widely shared post-match message from the losing finalists:

“Thank you for your support. It’s disappointing to lose like this… Next year will be ours!”

Why it matters:
Moments like this define Major narratives and reinforce CS2’s emotional connection with fans.

8. donk’s Breakout Year Emphasizes Maturity Over Star Power

Team Spirit’s donk described his 2025 evolution in an HLTV interview:

“I became more mature… now I’m thinking about winning the game as a team, not as a star player.”

Later, HLTV Awards named his 1v5 clutch against Vitality the Highlight of the Year.

Why it matters:
donk’s development symbolized the new generation adapting to CS2’s tactical demands.

9. ropz Explains His Move and the “Superstar Factor”

In HLTV’s Top 20 players feature, ropz explained why joining Vitality mattered:

“You can’t go wrong with ZywOo… it was my first time playing alongside a real superstar.”

Why it matters:
Roster moves centered around elite talent were a recurring theme in 2025’s transfer market.

10. Valve’s Community Map Update Sparks a Controversy

Valve’s October update added community maps such as Rooftop and Transit, but Transit was removed within days. Reports cited hidden offensive content and possible copyright issues.

Why it matters:
The incident highlighted the risks of rapid community content integration in CS2.

Final Verdict: Why 2025 Was a Defining Year for CS2

From expanded Majors and VRS qualification to Vitality’s historic dominance, 2025 reshaped Counter-Strike 2 at every level. The decisions made this year will influence CS2’s competitive structure, team strategies, and global reach well into 2026 and beyond.