Train returns to the majors after six years.
After months of speculation and fanfare, Train has joined the official competitive map pool. Train will replace Vertigo in the Active Duty pool for the Austin Major. The beloved map returns to the pool for the first time since 2021, following a CS2 rework in November 2024.
Vertigo finally banished!
Since the addition of Vertigo into the map pool in 2019, the map has felt uncomfortable to play. Through countless iterations, Vertigo has never given teams the freedom to play a variety of playstyles. Instead, the map has regularly been described as an "A-site Simulator" or "Retake Simulator." After the first couple of years of reworks, it had become apparent that the map simply could not be fixed. Yet somehow it persisted in the pool, surviving many other changes.
Across the second half of 2024, Vertigo was by far the least-played map in the pool, including just three games across the Elimination Stage of the Shanghai Major. Had it remained in play for the Austin Major, it would have gone eight Majors without being shuffled out, despite community outcry against the map. Luckily, Valve has finally made the cut, bringing back a fan-favorite instead.
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Train joins Map Pool for Austin Major
Train's extensive rework was revealed back in November 2024. While it kept many of the distinctive features of the map, including the eponymous Trains, there are some notable differences. Key amongst them is the lack of a ladder in Pop Dog and a rework of the Ivy-A area. Still, in competitive play, the map has been an instant hit, engrossing veterans and newer players alike.
The map also featured the first significant instance of weather in a CS2 map, with gameplay set against a rain-soaked background. Valve's announcement confirms the addition of Train to the pool for the Austin Major. However, the exact timeline of the switch is currently unknown. With just a week until BLAST's inaugural Bounty Season, the tournament organizer may decide to run with the older map pool, giving teams enough time to practice.
Regardless of the timeline, Train's return to the map pool for Austin has brought immense hype amongst fans and community members. Will IEM Katowice host the first competitive CS2 game of Train? Stay tuned to esports.gg for more CS2 news.
