Valve has done something special for Counter-Strike 2 fans. The company has officially bought “Cache,” one of the most popular fan-made maps in Counter-Strike history.
Cache has been loved by players for years. It first became part of the CS: GO competitive scene back in 2014. Fast-paced matches, smart angles, and clean visuals made it a favorite. But in 2019, it was removed from the map pool. Many fans hoped it would come back, and now it finally has.
The map was added to Counter-Strike 2 in March 2025. Since then, players have been wondering what happened behind the scenes. Now we know, Valve reached out and bought the map from its creators right when it launched.
Shawn Snelling, better known as FMPONE, helped redesign Cache. He shared the news on social media, thanking players, his fellow map creator Sal “Volcano” Garozzo, and the entire Counter-Strike community. It was clear this was a proud and emotional moment for him.
Interestingly, Sal Garozzo now works at Riot Games as co-lead game designer on Valorant. But his work on Cache will always be a big part of Counter-Strike history.
Even the graffiti art seen in Cache is now owned by Valve. That shows how serious they are about making it part of CS2’s future.
The official CS2 X account also reacted with a handshake emoji.
This move feels like Valve is not just updating the game, they are also embracing the community and the content that made CS: GO special. It is rare to see a fan-made map become official, and it is even rarer to see the creators get full credit and support.
Cache is back, and this time, it is here to stay.
