FACEIT Season 9 is officially underway, with the highlight of the update being the introduction of Cache back into the Active Duty Map Pool, replacing Overpass, which had become a staple for many professional teams in the previous season. With both maps being fan favorites, Season 9 might see a shift in veto strategy for several teams.
The iconic map Cache has been one of the most popular and loved maps within the CS2 community. However, its absence from the game for a prolonged period made players move away from it. While its return refreshed the map pool, Cache is a highly tactical map with enough open spaces for a more PUG-style approach, suggesting that many teams will attempt to integrate it into the map pool.
FACEIT has been the biggest third-party platform that CS2 players flock to when they want to enjoy better servers, higher-level matchmaking, and most importantly, a reliable anti-cheat. As FACEIT continues to keep up with these changes, the platform falls more in tune with the latest competitive facets from the developers.
As the new season unfolds with Cache’s reintroduction, we will find a drastic shift, especially in the competitive scene where some teams will find the meta early on to build a solid foundation heading into the 2nd half of the year. Whether the players will like it or not, that is hard to say, but initial positive reactions to the map suggest that it is here to stay for a long time.
