Train reportedly to be played at BLAST Bounty
The rumors surrounding the addition of Train in the competitive map pool have been confirmed. Valve has officially announced a major shake-up to the Counter-Strike competitive map pool ahead of the BLAST.tv Austin Major. Several other figureheads in the game, however, have pointed towards Train making it's comeback as early as BLAST Bounty.
The iconic map Train is making its long-awaited return to the Tier-1 circuit, replacing Vertigo in the active duty pool. Austin, specifically, would mark Train's first appearance at a Major since 2019, following a series of updates and a rework introduced in late 2024.
Train was initially removed from Counter-Strike’s active duty pool in May 2021 to make room for the introduction of Ancient. Since then, it remained absent from professional play and was even missing from the release of Counter-Strike 2 earlier in 2023.
However, Valve reintroduced Train with significant updates in November 2024. While its signature layout remains intact, players will notice some key changes, such as the removal of the ladder in Pop Dog and adjustments to the route connecting Ivy to site A.
These tweaks aim to modernize the map while preserving its famous classic appeal.
Bye bye Vertigo
The decision to bring back Train comes at the expense of Vertigo, which has had a polarizing history within the Counter-Strike community since its inclusion in 2019.
Despite receiving numerous updates over the years, Vertigo struggled to gain widespread acceptance among players and fans alike. Its underwhelming popularity is reflected in recent statistics: over the past six months, Vertigo was played only 746 times in HLTV-recorded matches, making it the least-played map by far.
For comparison, Dust2 — another map with declining popularity — was played 1,191 times during the same period.
Vertigo's struggles were also evident during high-profile tournaments. At the Shanghai Major, for instance, it was picked just three times during the Elimination Stage. And completely ignored throughout the playoff bracket.
Many top teams consistently banned Vertigo from their map pools, further highlighting its lack of traction at the highest level of competition.
Train set to replace Vertigo at the Austin Major (Credit: Valve)Confirmed at the Austin Major
For the time being, it is confirmed that Train will be a part of the BLAST.tv Austin Major’s map pool. The North American tournament is set to take place in June of this year. However, we might see the iconic map a lot sooner than that, like at the upcoming BLAST Bounty, pending official confirmation.
The return of Train is likely to excite long-time fans who have missed its strategic depth and iconic design. While at the same time, it signals a fresh chapter for competitive Counter-Strike as teams prepare to adapt their strategies for one of the game’s most storied battlegrounds.
With Train back in action and Vertigo stepping aside, at least for now, all eyes will be placed on how this adjustment may impact team dynamics and map vetoes at one of 2025’s most anticipated events.
For the latest CS2 news and guides, follow Strafe Esports. Check out our X account for the latest content and coverage.
For more Counter-Strike rostermania news, check out our CS2 rostermania for all the latest shuffles.
Featured Image Source: Valve
Read more:
Counter-Strike AUG Guide: Performance and Pro Tactics