Cache Returns to Competitive Rotation
Valve has officially restored Cache to Counter-Strike 2 through the April 29 update, making the classic map available across Casual, Deathmatch, Competitive, and Retakes modes. The beloved three-lane layout, originally crafted by Shawn “FMPONE” Snelling, arrives with a complete overhaul that Valve says preserves familiar locations while helping new players learn strategic teamplay fundamentals.
Years of community demand fueled the return after Cache left the map pool in 2019. A remake appeared at ESL One New York 2019’s showmatch but never reached Active Duty due to performance issues caused by dense foliage spanning the map. Valve purchased the map outright from FMPONE in 2025, enabling the latest rework that addresses those technical limitations.
Premier Map Pool Addition Confirmed
Following the IEM Cologne Major 2026, Valve announced Cache will join the Premier Map Pool with Season 5’s launch. Season 4 concludes July 6, with the update arriving shortly after. The addition replaces Overpass in the Active Duty Map Pool, marking Cache’s first official inclusion in competitive rotation since its original removal.
The April 29 patch also delivered smaller map adjustments. Dust2’s Xbox position now peels back covers for a new peek angle into A Short, a change that accidentally debuted in March before being implemented intentionally. Office received a collision fix for tarps near CT spawn, while community maps Stronghold and Poseidon updated to their latest Workshop versions. Technical updates include revised Animgraph 2 animations for Talon and Karambit knives alongside general bug fixes.