CSGO fans and s1mple are upset with observers at Berlin Major

The 2019 Berlin StarLadder Major is underway and some fans and players have already criticized the observers in charge of the tournament’s viewing experience. 

Observers play a key role in any Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament, as they follow the action and control who the camera is on and where it is positioned on the map. It is their responsibility to make sure they catch the kills and key events of each round. 

No one is suggesting the task is easy, with CSGO action often being unpredictable and frenetic, and for the most part the observers at the pro level do a fantastic job capturing the action. That usual high standard is what has led to complaints about the Berlin Major. 

Even Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has taken to Twitter to voice his concerns. In a tweet during a game between Vitality and Grayhound, he made it clear he wasn’t impressed.

“I have 1 question for observer (Vitality-Grayhound) – What the heck are u doing?” s1mple asked.

What is wrong with CSGO observing in Berlin?

Many have taken to reddit to complain that the observers are missing kills and frequently taking the point of view of the player who has just died, switching perspective repeatedly during fights, and generally making the viewing experience chaotic. 

Not only that, but in the lead up to fights some users have questioned the location of the camera entirely. 

“During the Vitality/Greyhound Overpass game there were two CTs on B site and no Ts anywhere near B site. The Ts were throwing smokes and flashes at A. They had a second camera on the side of the screen showing the two CTs at B… like… why?” one user asked.

In a twitlonger post, observer Connor “Sliggy” Blomfield believed that there may have been cost saving measures put in place, or a lot of communication making it difficult for the observers. He reassured fans by saying that with practice, the observers should improve for the latter stages of the tournament. 

This episode may however increase the appreciation of the work that observers generally do around the CSGO scene.