Patryk Stachowiak
With the Budapest Major now less than two weeks away, Valve has officially kicked off the pre-Major hype cycle by releasing the full set of team stickers, player signatures, and — most notably — the brand-new Sticker Slab system.
This update marks one of the most anticipated pre-tournament drops of the Counter-Strike 2 season, setting the stage for the first Major ever hosted in Hungary.
A New Wave of Stickers for the Budapest Major
As tradition dictates, players can now dive into the freshly released team logos and player autograph stickers tied to the StarLadder Budapest Major.
These capsules showcase teams entering the event at their peak — and some battling for redemption after a turbulent year of roster shuffles, meta shifts, and intense RMR upsets.
Fans can expect the full artistic spectrum: holo variants, glitter textures, and the distinctive CS2-style reflective finishes that have become a hallmark of modern sticker design.
The Viewer Pass Returns — With Budapest-Exclusive Progression
The Budapest 2025 Viewer Pass has also gone live, offering CS2 fans access to:
• The upgradable Budapest 2025 Coin
• The full Pick’Em Challenge
• Souvenir packages earned by completing event stages
• A leaderboard showcasing how your Pick’Em predictions stack up against your friends
It’s the classic Major experience — prediction bragging rights included.
The Sticker Slab: A Brand-New Feature for CS2 Collectors
The update’s biggest surprise comes in the form of the Sticker Slab, a new item that allows players to display stickers on their weapons without permanently applying them.
Think of it as a reversible, weapon-friendly showcase: crack open the slab whenever you want, reclaim your sticker, and re-slots it on another skin whenever inspiration strikes.
For collectors and traders, this is a game-changer. No more agonising over whether that Krakow gold should be glued to a Deagle or saved for a future trade-up masterpiece.
Gameplay & QoL Tweaks Ahead of the Major
Beyond the sticker festivities, Valve pushed a series of subtle but meaningful gameplay improvements:
• Increased the maximum effective sv_maxvelocity cap (though the default remains unchanged)
• Fixed mispredicted jump inputs and apex reads
• Updated glove models and animations to match first-person fidelity
• Improved bullet decal distances
• Enabled the pulsing C4 viewmodel light for better clarity
Inferno also received a quality-of-life fix, resolving a skybox issue that previously blocked certain grenade lineups — a small but impactful tweak for teams preparing for the Major.
Full Patch Notes
For readers who want everything exactly as shipped, here are Valve’s full release notes included in the update:
[ STORE ]
• Added the new Sticker Slab item, allowing stickers to be sealed, displayed, and safely returned to inventory.
• Newly purchased Name Tags and StatTrak™ Swap Tools can no longer be traded or listed on the Community Market.
[ GAMEPLAY ]
• Increased maximum effective sv_maxvelocity to 16,384 (default unchanged).
• Fixed mispredicted jump button presses.
• Fixed mispredicted jump apexes.
[ MAPS ]
• Fixed an Inferno skybox issue blocking grenades.
[ MISC ]
• Increased bullet decal rendering distance.
• UI gloves now match in-game glove animations.
• Re-enabled pulsing C4 viewmodel light.
• Updated Steam Market color schemes to match item quality colors.
• General performance improvements.
Looking Ahead to Budapest
With the release of stickers, the Viewer Pass, and the new Sticker Slab, Valve has officially fired the starting pistol for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.
The countdown begins now: storylines are forming, rosters are polishing their strats, and fans worldwide are locking in their first Pick’Em predictions.
If this update is any indication, Budapest is gearing up to deliver one of the most memorable CS2 Majors yet.