The CS2 map behind iconic xQc fail is set to return to Counter-Strike next week

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It looks like Valve is about to add Cache back to the list of maps played in Counter-Strike 2. The game’s official X (formerly Twitter) account shared a video of memorable moments from Cache with the question, “What are you doing next week?” hinting at its return.

As a long-time fan, it’s crazy to think that map hasn’t been played in competitive matches since March 2019! That means it’s been out of the regular rotation for seven whole years now, which feels like forever.

Cache started as a map made by the community—specifically, Shawn Snelling (FMPONE) and Salvatore Garozzo (Volcano)—and was later added to the official competitive map pool in July 2014.

How Valve has been teasing the return

The first hint appeared in December 2025 when Valve subtly changed a number in a promotional video. They replaced the ‘0’ in ‘2026’ with a radiation symbol, referencing the Chernobyl-like environment of the ‘Cache’ map.

In January 2026, the official Counter-Strike 2 account responded to a NAVI post regarding the map with the message “It’s cooking.”

On April 22nd, the official Counter-Strike 2 account changed its banner to show the zebra crossing from the T-side spawn on the Cache map. Fans immediately noticed the textures looked new and different from those created by the community, leading many to believe Valve had completely rebuilt that part of the map. Valve used a similar tactic before bringing back the Train map late in 2024.

What are you doing next week?

— CS2 (@CounterStrike) April 24, 2026

In May 2025, Valve obtained the rights to the map from its creator, FMPONE, who had completely rebuilt it for CS2 using the latest Source 2 engine. The map also became popular on the FACEIT platform, being added to their Season 8 lineup on April 22nd after winning a community vote with over 148,000 participants.

What map could Cache replace?

The maps currently used in competitive play are Ancient, Anubis, Dust 2, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke, and Overpass. Players are mostly expecting two of these maps to be removed from the pool.

Mirage is the main map players are focusing on for changes, as it’s the only one from the beginning of CS:GO that hasn’t been significantly redesigned. Many players and professionals also feel that the updated version of Inferno is too cramped and that strategies involving grenades and smokes have become predictable.

The return of the Cache map is exciting for more than just competitive players. It’s famous for a hilarious and chaotic moment involving streamer xQc, where he accidentally threw a molotov at himself, blinded himself with a flashbang, and then mistakenly killed his teammate, Jesse. The clip of this incident became incredibly popular online, earning over 18,000 upvotes on Reddit. TopMob previously provided a detailed analysis of the whole incident.

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2026-04-25 23:49