Train To Replace Vertigo in Time For BLAST.tv Austin Major

We've got some brilliant news to share for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) players and for esports fans! Valve has finally done the right thing and announced that Train will replace the much-despised Vertigo on the Active Duty map pool.

This should make both Competitive/Premier Mode players happy and give the esports fans watching from home something to get excited about. 

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In a very short but sweet post on X, the official CS2 account said good morning to BLAST.tv and then +Train - Vertigo. 

It's about time, to be honest! 

In case you didn't know, the iconic de_Train, also known as just Train, returned to Counter-Strike in mid-November 2024 after three years and six months of absence. Valve removed Train from the Active Duty map pool in May 2021, and many have awaited its return. 

Vertigo has outlived its welcome in CS2, which is why Trian is replacing it on the Active Duty map pool. The map is the lowest-played of all in esports events by quite a large margin, and it is rare to see Vertigo make it through a veto. 

At the time of writing, Valve has not revealed exactly when Train will replace Vertigo on the Active Duty map pool (which is also used for Premier Mode). However, we know it will be in time for the BLAST.tv Austin Major, with the main event starting on 9 June 2025. Train should be in the map pool in time for the qualifiers, so expect it sooner rather than later.

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