It’s an expected rotation, as Valve follows the usual cycle. Still, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) players did not see Anubis coming back to the game.
The announcement about this change in the Active Duty map pool happened right before the esports season starts. Combined with a crazy pick of maps to add and remove, it caused a wave of open disappointment in the community.
Anubis replaces Train in CS2
Starting from Premier Season Four, Anubis is back in competitive Counter-Strike, instead of Train. Valve revealed this rotation via a social post, giving very little info on the upcoming update.
- Anubis will be added to the Premier and Competitive modes for online matchmaking.
- Train is out from Premier and esports events on Jan. 19.
CS2 esports must adjust
Beyond the map pick itself, the timing of this announcement caused reasonable concerns.
Most pro teams have already started their active training, as the first tournament of CS2 season 2026 starts on Jan.13. It's a qualifier for BLAST Bounty Winter 2026.
Later this month, we have IEM Krakow 2026: starting on Jan. 28. Both tournament organizers, BLAST and ESL, should reveal their decisions about the available maps. Anubis will be added to CS2 right between the qualifier and the LAN Finals of Bounty Winter 2026.
paiN and FURIA played on Anubis in the Boston Major Playoffs
The impact of this rotation becomes a less crucial factor later on. Pro teams know Anubis well and are good at adapting to changes. Still, a few early tournaments may feature chaos in results: you may try and use it on one of the best esport betting sites.
The CS2 community asked for Cache
Players have been pretty loud about their desire to have something fresh in CS2: Cache and Cobblestone specifically. Not only does it not happen, but the game also receives a map that was removed just 6 months ago.
- Overpass replaced Anubis after the Boston Major 2025.
- Train was added a bit earlier, after the Shanghai Major 2024. It replaced Vertigo back then but eventually survived only one year in the Active Duty pool.
At the Budapest Major, NAVI secured their win versus FURIA on Train
Train wasn't a top map pick at the StarLadder Major in Budapest, but it was more popular than Ancient and Overpass.
Updates for Anubis?
It is still unclear if Valve makes Anubis different — which would be a logical step. It could be a visual refreshment or an adjustment that affects gameplay.
Answering a direct question about this, the CS2 account went for a joke.
In addition to the map rotation, CS2 Premier Season 4 brings us a rating reset and initiates the new grind for a commemorative Medal.
We should wait for the official patch notes to understand what else happens in the game with this update.
