FMPONE is back with a new map, and this time it takes Counter-Strike 2 somewhere it has never been before.
Shawn “FMPONE” Snelling, the creator of the legendary Cache map, released a new work for Counter-Strike 2 on April 12, 2026. Its name is de_splinter, and it is already available for free download on the Steam Workshop.
The release follows a short teaser posted on April 11. A 14-second teaser video was shared on X on Saturday, explicitly signaling an April 12 release.
Where de_splinter Is Set
As per FMPONE, the new map is based on Lake Moraine and the Canadian Rockies. The teaser footage shows an industrial setting that features a sawmill and mountain terrain.
Set in an abandoned lumber yard, de_splinter is a standard bomb defusal map. Visually, it embraces a warm autumnal color scheme, dominated by greens and oranges, with a snowy mountain backdrop that makes the environment pop.
This setting is a clear departure from the urban and desert environments that dominate most Counter-Strike maps. The Canadian Rockies reference gives the map a distinct outdoor industrial feel that stands apart from the rest of the pool.
A Modern Remake of de_Coaline
de_splinter is a modern reinterpretation of the classic de_Coaline. FMPONE has relied on vertical spaces and narrow corners in the design.
The map layout is fairly compact, with interiors and exteriors connected by tight corners. Both bombsites open up nicely and are by far the most open areas of the map.
For players who have never encountered de_Coaline, it was a sawmill-themed map from Counter-Strike’s earlier years. de_splinter builds on that original concept using Source 2 tools, bringing the setting into the modern era.
How It Looks in Source 2
The visuals in de_splinter utilize the Source 2 engine with high-fidelity textures and environmental lighting in the indoor workshop areas.
Despite the high level of detail, character visibility does not suffer, which makes it viable for competitive play. Performance at this early stage is described as rocky, which was also a criticism of FMPONE’s CS2 Cache version.
The trade-off between visual quality and performance is a known issue in community maps at early release. FMPONE is expected to iterate based on player feedback and telemetry, as he has done with past projects.
This Is FMPONE’s First Independent Release Since Selling Cache
The release of de_splinter carries extra context because of what happened to FMPONE’s previous project.
Valve reached out to purchase Cache on day one of its CS2 release. FMPONE confirmed the purchase, noting the map “is in great hands now.”
Cache is now undergoing optimization and changes with Valve for a potential return to Counter-Strike 2’s Active Duty map pool. de_splinter is positioned as a standalone community release, independent from Valve’s pipeline.
That distinction matters. de_splinter is fully FMPONE’s own project at this stage. Whether it follows a similar path to Valve involvement depends entirely on how the community responds.
Valve previously had Thera, another of FMPONE’s CS2 maps, in the community pool, so a similar outcome for de_splinter is not out of the question.
What Comes After de_splinter
In reply to a comment on his teaser post, FMPONE confirmed he will release one more map, de_Vegas, before transitioning his focus to developing indie games.
de_splinter is available now as a free download via the CS2 Steam Workshop. Players can download it directly and try it in custom lobbies. For the latest on competitive CS2, check the IEM Rio 2026 coverage on TalkEsport and the full CS2 tournament calendar for 2026 on TalkEsport. For more background on FMPONE’s map history, Dust2.us has covered his work extensively.
FAQ
What is de_splinter in CS2? de_splinter is a new community map for Counter-Strike 2 created by FMPONE. It is set in a sawmill located in the Canadian Rockies and is a modern remake of the classic map de_Coaline. It released on April 12, 2026, via the Steam Workshop.
Who made de_splinter? de_splinter was made by Shawn “FMPONE” Snelling, the same creator behind Cache, Thera, and several other well-known Counter-Strike maps.
Is de_splinter free to download? Yes. de_splinter is available as a free download on the Steam Workshop.
What map is de_splinter based on? de_splinter is a modern reimagining of de_Coaline, a classic Counter-Strike map with a sawmill setting.
Will de_splinter be added to CS2 Active Duty? There is no official confirmation from Valve. It launched as a standalone community map. FMPONE’s earlier map Thera was added to the CS2 community pool, which suggests a similar path is possible for de_splinter.
What is FMPONE making after de_splinter? FMPONE has confirmed that de_Vegas will be his next map before he moves on to indie game development.
