CS2 Map Pool Changes: em0k1d Says Ancient Still Has Untapped Potential, Mirage “Will Never Be Removed”

CS2 map pool changes remain one of the most discussed topics in the Counter-Strike community, and popular streamer Danila “em0k1d” Rubanov has shared his take on the future of Ancient, Mirage, and possible rotations in Valve’s Active Duty pool.

According to em0k1d, Ancient should not be the next map removed, as teams are still discovering new tactical approaches, while Mirage remains untouchable despite long-standing criticism.

em0k1d on Ancient: “Teams Are Still Finding New Ideas”

Speaking about ongoing rumors surrounding CS2 map rotations, em0k1d pushed back against the idea that Ancient has become stale:

“Removing Ancient would be a bad decision. There are maps that should be replaced before it. It’s not that one-dimensional — teams are still finding new ideas on it.”

Ancient has been part of the Active Duty map pool since 2021, and while it often divides opinion among players and analysts, it continues to evolve at the professional level due to CS2’s updated mechanics, utility behavior, and economy changes.

From an esports perspective, map depth and tactical freshness are key criteria for rotation decisions — and em0k1d believes Ancient still meets both.

Mirage’s Future in CS2: Too Iconic to Remove?

Despite widespread calls from fans for a Mirage rework or removal, em0k1d is confident that Valve will not take Mirage out of the pool:

“Mirage has outlived itself, but nobody is going to remove it — for obvious reasons.”

Mirage remains:

one of the most played CS maps of all time

a staple of matchmaking, Premier, and professional play

highly recognizable for casual and competitive audiences

From an SEO and business standpoint, Mirage is also one of the strongest brand maps in Counter-Strike, making its removal highly unlikely in the near future.

CS2 Map Pool Rumors: What Could Change Next?

Recent insider reports and community discussions suggest that Valve may adjust the Active Duty map pool around the end of Premier Season 3, potentially after major LAN events.

Key rumors currently circulating:

Ancient could be replaced by Anubis (unconfirmed)

Cache is not expected to return yet

Premier Season 3 may be extended, delaying any immediate map rotation

So far, Valve has not made any official announcements, and all such claims remain speculative.

Context: Valve Has Already Shown Willingness to Rotate Maps

In a confirmed update, Valve previously:

Removed Anubis

Reintroduced Overpass

Adjusted the CT economy and weapon balance in CS2 Premier

That update reinforced the idea that map rotations are closely tied to seasonal and economic changes, rather than purely popularity metrics.

Rising Players Mentioned by em0k1d

In addition to map discussions, em0k1d briefly highlighted young talents who could appear in future “players to watch” lists:

makazze

Wicadia

Notably, makazze was officially promoted from NAVI’s academy system in 2025, aligning with broader industry coverage of emerging CS2 prospects.