BLAST Austin Major stickers, Pick’Em Challenge now available; new ‘Highlight Keychain’ hidden in fil

We're just weeks away from the next CS2 Major in Austin, which means it's time for the BLAST Austin Major Pick'Em Challenge and Coin! Valve released a May 22 patch which includes the full Austin Major Viewer Pass with the all-important major sticker capsules now up for grabs.

Valve is also introducing seemingly introducing a new addition to Souvenir weapons — a custom weapon keychain that has an attached highlight reel from the match selected. This wasn't announced by Valve in the update, however, leaving many perplexed.

Stickers for the Austin Major went live on May 22 via an update to CS2. As with every major, players can buy a Viewer Pass which includes the Major Challenge Coin. The coin can be leveled up by succeeding with the Pick'Em Challenge — make correct picks as to who will progress through each stage of the Major.

Of particular mention is something discovered in the Austin Major Viewer Pass update by data miner Thour: a "Highlight Keychain" that comes attached to souvenir weapons. This keychain will reportedly include a highlight from the selected match.

There was no mention of this keychain in the patch notes, so we can't be sure the feature will be available in time for the Austin Major. Perhaps it's something Valve is looking at including for the final playoff stage? We can only speculate at this time, but the files are there!

The Austin Major Viewer Pass is available in-game for $10 USD. Stickers can be purchased separately, with all 32 team logo and player autographs coming via their respective capsules. If you're chasing a particular team sticker or autograph you'll have to get lucky, or buy one directly from the Steam Market.

The community was quick to note Legacy's inclusion in the opening stage capsule. Legacy was confirmed to be replacing Argentinian squad BESTIA hours before the Austin Major Viewer Pass went live.

BESTIA was unable to secure visas in time for the event; however, there is an ongoing appeal from the community to BLAST in the hopes this decision can be reversed.

Pro player Denis "seized" Kostin pointed out on X/Twitter that his team 9Pandas was given until a couple of days before the PGL Copenhagen Major to sort visas, with the team even missing media obligations.

"You have enough time to wait until Monday guys, step up," he said, noting it was still weeks away from the start of the opening stage when BESTIA would be expected to play.

BESTIA posted an update stating visas are now sorted, yet they "continue to be ignored" by BLAST. "We cannot allow this injustice to continue. We demand to be heard," the org concluded.

At this time, however, despite much support from other players and members of the community, Legacy will be the ones standing in — especially given Legacy's stickers and player autographs were included in today's Viewer Pass update.

The Austin Major begins in early June. For more CS2 news stay tuned to esports.gg.

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