CS2 Premier Season 3 is here - Here are all the latest news

The third season of Premier Mode in Counter-Strike 2 has officially begun! We've summarized everything that’s changing and what you can expect.

• Fresh CS2 update brings weekly missions and impressive community maps
  
  

Bad news for fans of Egyptian temples: Anubis is leaving the Active Duty Map Pool. In its place, a classic favorite is making a comeback – Overpass returns to the game. With the new season, not only is the map pool changing, but you can also expect exciting gameplay adjustments and an important new security feature for your skins.

Season Start: Medals, Matches, and Motivation

Season 3 officially launched on July 16, 2025. If you're running a powerful PC – for example, a reliable gaming setup like the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB graphics card – you can dive into the new season with sharp visuals and zero worries. There’s a lot of familiar content, but also plenty of new things to explore!

As always, you can earn the coveted season medal. Its color depends on your highest CS Rating during the season. For every 25 Premier wins, you get an additional segment – up to a maximum of five. That’s a great reason to spend your weekends grinding matches.

To secure your medal, you'll need:

• a clean account
• at least 25 Premier wins
• an active CS Rating at the end of the season
  
  

So stay focused, don’t give up early – and use the upcoming six months (that’s how long the season is expected to last) to give it your all.

Map Rotation: Overpass in, Anubis out

The most noticeable change in Season 3 is in the Active Duty pool: Overpass replaces Anubis.
Overpass has been part of the game since the 2013 Winter Update and was one of the first maps designed specifically for CS:GO. With vertical layouts, complex bombsites, and tactical depth, it brought a fresh twist to the game. After feedback and refinements, it was officially added to the competitive pool alongside Cobblestone in 2014.

After the CS2 Major in early 2024, Overpass was removed from the pool – but now it's back. Anubis, which had been in the pool since late 2022, makes way. Despite its stunning visuals and open layout, Anubis was considered heavily T-sided, making it difficult to balance.

Overpass now swings the balance back toward the CT side. The map traditionally favors defenders – with early pushes, aggressive angles, and strong map control, it's a CT's paradise. With recent changes to incendiary grenades, T-side rushes could become even more difficult.

Gameplay Changes: Fire, MP9, and CT Economy

The new season also brings several impactful gameplay tweaks:

• Molotov/incendiary grenades: Flames spread faster – ideal for blocking chokepoints or flushing out enemies from corners.
• MP9 nerf: The popular CT SMG has been weakened. Its airborne accuracy is significantly reduced, and its spray pattern is harder to control. Jumping MP9 players will need to adjust.
• CT economy: Defenders now receive a bonus for every eliminated T – regardless of the round outcome. This helps keep the CT economy stable, even in close games.
  
  

More protection for your skins

Another highlight: Valve introduces a safety net for your inventory with “Trade Protected Items.” If you’ve been hacked or scammed, you can reverse trades from the last seven days. It’s not a perfect safeguard – but a valuable feature for anyone serious about protecting their skins.

You’ll find the reversal button in your Steam trade history. Valve has detailed the process in a new FAQ.

New meta, new opportunities

With Overpass back in the lineup, teams will have to adapt: rebuild strategies, practice old grenades, test new setups. Anubis’ open playstyle is replaced by a more tactically controlled map that offers more breathing room for defenders.

The changes to molotovs and the MP9 are also likely to influence the meta – especially during eco and force rounds. So if you're aiming to collect all five segments of the Season 3 medal, now’s the time to dive back in.

 (Image source: Valve)