Counter-Strike Majors Reportedly Expanding to 32 Teams in 2025

16 Oct 2024

Tit Krajnik 16 Oct 2024

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CS Majors will feature 32 teams in 2025
Regional Major Ranking events get removed
Invitations are expected to be based on Valve’s tam ranking

Counter-Strike Major (Getty Images)

According to recent reports, Counter-Strike Majors will expand to 32 teams in 2025. besides the extended team list, other changes are set to be introduced, namely the removal of Regional Major Ranking events.

While not officially confirmed, multiple sources have stated Counter-Strike 2 Majors will undergo significant changes in 2025, namely by increasing the number of participating teams by eight.

Qualifying for CS Majors will also take a different path. The Regional Major Ranking (RMR) events, which served as the qualifying stage for Majors, will be removed and replaced with a different way for teams to reach the Major.

While it is unclear what qualifying process Valve will use for Majors, it is expected to be based on Valve’s team ranking, the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), starting in 2025.

The increased number of participating teams will also affect the Major format, with an added Swiss stage to the already existing Opening Stage and Elimination Stage. As a result, Counter-Strike Majors will last longer, extending beyond two weeks.

The changes won’t come into effect until 2025, meaning that the first Major which could follow new rules and format will be the BLAST.tv Austin Major set to take place on June 9-22, 2025. Meanwhile, the upcoming CS2 Major, the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, will not be affected.

Despite lasting longer, the Austin Major will not interfere with other Counter-Strike tournaments, as it is currently the only announced event to take place in June.

The team expansion for 2025 marks the first time a Major increased the number of participants since ELEAGUE Major 2018, which expanded from 16 to 24 teams with the addition of the Main Qualifier stage.

The Major changes have yet to be officially announced by Valve, however, more information should become available in the coming months.