Cache is making its competitive CS2 comeback on FACEIT

Fariha Bhatti Published 20/04/2026

Voting for the eighth FACEIT map is now complete, with Cache winning the race with 148,840 votes as the favorite map to appear in Season 8.

FACEIT is often considered the only platform in Counter-Strike 2 where real competition happens. This is all thanks to the FACEIT anti-cheat, which makes it almost impossible for malicious actors to cheat in the game. For this reason, serious CS2 players prefer FACEIT over Valve Matchmaking. So, when FACEIT announced that it was pushing the total map count from seven to eight back in March, fans had mixed feelings.

Those mixed feelings were attributed to some of the less popular maps being included. Thankfully, the final decision was in the players’ hands, and they have made their pick.

Cache is the brand new map on FACEIT

After 15 days of voting, the final piece for the FACEIT map pool has been locked. Cache is now one of the playable locations on FACEIT, with wins counting towards the official ELO.

Cache was easily one of the most beloved maps in Counter-Strike history, offering a refreshing visual and design contrast to the likes of Dust 2 and Inferno. However, its popularity in CSGO declined sharply, a trend that carried over into CS2. Originally maintained by FMPONE since 2013, Valve acquired the rights in 2025, and Cache is now making its return with a fresh facelift.

CS2 map Cache. Image credit: FACEIT

In March, FACEIT announced it would expand its map pool from 7 to 8 maps, leaving the final selection in fans’ hands: a choice between Train, Vertigo, and Cache. General audience sentiment was already leaning toward Cache, and now the numbers have confirmed it.

Cache came out on top with 148,840 votes, narrowly edging out Vertigo in second place. As a result, Cache will be available on FACEIT starting April 22 when Season 8 kicks off. While the fan support for Cache is undeniable, FACEIT will still give players the option to disable it. Those who do will simply fall back to the original seven-map pool for their vetoes.

Design-wise, Cache is an excellent map for both competitive play and esports viewership, common among elite players at CS2 betting sites. Its clean, well-lit aesthetic makes it easy on the eyes and ideal for broadcast. With defined choke points on both bomb sites and a sprawling mid-section that rewards map control, Cache embodies the classic CS2 map design philosophy.

Featured image credit: Valve

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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