Cache Is Back — and It Matters
What This Update Means
- A missing piece of CS heritage restored — Cache fills a major gap in CS2's classic map lineup
- Fresh energy for matchmaking and community servers — expect surging queue times and workshop content
- A wave of returning players — old strats, old callouts, and old friends are all coming back online
Why Cache Is Special
The Origin: Counter-Strike Source (2011)
FMPONE's Overhaul: The Map Becomes a Legend
Entering the Official Stage
2019: Leaving Active Duty
The CS2 Version: Not a Port, a Reimagining
Why Players Care This Much
TL;DR
FAQ
Cache returned to CS2 in the April 2026 update, after years of being absent from the official competitive map pool since its removal from Active Duty in March 2019.
Cache was originally created by Sal 'Volcano' Garozzo for Counter-Strike: Source in 2011. It was later redesigned and visually overhauled by FMPONE starting in 2013, with contributions from penE.
Cache was removed from the Active Duty map pool in March 2019 to make room for Vertigo and to allow FMPONE to complete a visual overhaul of the map.
The CS2 version retains Cache's classic layout and gameplay skeleton but features updated lighting, materials, visibility improvements, and localized callout adjustments built for Source 2.
While Cache is playable in CS2 as of April 2026, whether it returns to the official Active Duty pool for Major tournaments has not been confirmed by Valve at the time of writing.
