Learn and master CS2 with FACEIT, faster than anywhere else, and compete for $100,000 in prize money, the highest prize pool ever awarded in a public matchmaking system.

London, UK, September 28th, 2023 – Today, ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company, reveals that Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is now playable on FACEIT, the world’s leading online platform for competitive gaming. CS2 players looking to master the new iteration of Counter-Strike can now join the world’s largest community on FACEIT, with 22 million serious players, to hone their skills faster than anywhere else. 

On FACEIT, players can join communities, gather tips and feedback for their path going pro and join or host matches on private servers. FACEIT provides its own ranking system in which players start at Level 1 and are able to reach Level 10. Players can participate in community tournaments or qualify for the FACEIT Pro League (FPL) and start their journey to become one of the best CS players in the world. To ensure a safe environment, FACEIT offers its renowned anti-cheat and chat moderation through its own AI called “Minerva”.

The new era of Counter-Strike begins on FACEIT with the launch of a new seasonal Elo system. FACEIT Season 1 is designed to create the ultimate competitive environment for CS2.  FACEIT Season 1 will culminate with the first FPL Proving Grounds: The Ultimate Path to Pro, which will boast the highest prize pool ever awarded in a public matchmaking system – featuring $100,000 in prizes for top ‘Challenger’ rank players. Challenger is the new rank on FACEIT, introduced for the top 1,000 players in Europe, South America, and North America. Additionally, the top three players of FPL Proving Grounds will earn a direct invite to the FPL, and a monthly stipend to support them on their path to pro.

Designed to empower the highest Elo rated matchmaking players to break into the professional scene, FPL Proving Grounds will take place every four months and will act as a new way to qualify for FPL. Its first iteration will serve as the grand finale of FACEIT Season 1, replacing FPL-C Hubs and FPL-C Qualifiers. The path to FPL is now free and directly connects to the Elo leaderboards in Europe, North America and South America. 

The FPL has already been launched in Counter-Strike 2 featuring top players, CS legends and truly top talents, optimizing the famous path to pro environment that supported stars such as Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Robin “ropz” Kool, and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov. The goal is to recreate the look and feel of the early days of FPL with matches full of top pros and unique livestream content for the community. FACEIT is also making Elo and Skill Level adjustments to better reflect the current player base, which will reduce wait times for high-ranked players and offer better match balance, revitalizing the race to the #1 spot in Counter-Strike 2.

Further additions to CS2 on FACEIT include Super Match, a new innovative feature that empowers players to take control of their matching experience and 100% guarantee specific characteristics of their next match, ensuring the algorithm can adapt to player needs. Version 1.0 of Super Match will be available in all regions for all  Plus and Premium subscribers.

In addition to North America, FACEIT has now rolled out a server selector feature for European players, offering an array of server locations to choose from, including Moscow, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, UK, and France. CS2 players can now fine-tune their ping optimization by selecting server locations before they queue up. This is a game-changer for players in the CIS region, enhancing connectivity, while also minimizing language barriers at scale, by more effectively clustering Western and Eastern European players. To support this expansion without affecting queue times, FACEIT has raised the minimum map selection requirement for premium subscribers.

“Over the past decade, we have had the honor of collaborating with the CS community to build FACEIT, a platform capable of bolstering the entire CS ecosystem and its sporting scene. CS2 is an incredibly exciting new chapter that gives us the chance to reinforce our commitment to this mission on an even grander scale,” said Niccolo Maisto, co-CEO, ESL FACEIT Group. “We seize this moment to extend a warm welcome to all players, organizers, teams, and creators who, like us, have a profound passion for competitive Counter-Strike and want to contribute to grow this great scene even further.”

FACEIT users can play Counter-Strike 2 now at FACEIT.com.

For more information about CS2 on FACEIT head to FACEIT.com/cs2. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Reddit. Watch clips and tournaments on FACEIT’s YouTube and Twitch Channels.

For more general information, visit eslfaceitgroup.com or follow ESL FACEIT Group on LinkedIn.

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About FACEIT 

FACEIT creates a world where the community has the power to shape video games. As the leading independent competitive gaming platform for online multiplayer PvP gamers. We aim to further the esports ecosystem by offering players of all levels the chance to compete in a competitive environment with the games they love while providing publishers and third-party organizers with the tools needed to build their competitive community. FACEIT is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading competitive games and esports company.

About ESL FACEIT Group

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.