Steam’s recent launch of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) support is a game-saver for Indian PC gamers. This guide takes you through each step of paying using UPI on Steam, addresses troubleshooting, discusses refunds, and addresses the most common questions, so you can spend less time messing around with payment gateways and more time gaming.
Why UPI Matters on Steam
UPI is India’s leading instant-payments rail, handling 18.67 billion transactions valued at ₹25.14 trillion in May 2025 alone. Indian Steam users to date have had to use untrustworthy gateways or gift-card hacks that introduced friction and costs.
Before July 2025, Indian users had to use unstable gateways or clunky gift-card loopholes that frequently featured failed transactions and buried charges. And now, with Steam’s inclusion through Komoju, players can pay directly from any UPI-enabled application such as Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, or bank-specific UPI apps without a foreign credit or debit card.
By leveraging UPI’s zero-MDR (merchant discount rate) structure and India’s 500 million-plus active users, Steam not only simplifies payment but also expands its reach to millions who previously lacked access to conventional card-based methods, paving the way for higher purchase frequency and stronger market growth in one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming communities.
How to Use UPI on Steam (Desktop Version)?
Follow the steps mentioned below to use the UPI payment method on the Steam desktop version:
Launch Steam (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
Log in and ensure “₹ INR” is the store currency.
Fill your cart, then click the green “Purchase for myself” button.
On the “Choose how you wish to pay” screen, select “UPI.”
A Komoju pop-up generates a QR code and an optional input field labeled “VPA / UPI ID.”
Open your UPI app → Scan the code or type Steam’s displayed VPA.
Authorize with your UPI PIN.
Steam auto-closes the gateway and returns you to a success screen. You’ll also get an email confirmation.
How to Use UPI on Steam (Mobile App)?
How to Use UPI on Steam Mobile
Follow the steps mentioned below to use the UPI payment method on the Steam mobile app:
Open Steam Mobile and ensure your store currency is set to INR (₹).
Add your game or DLC to the cart and tap Purchase for myself.
Select UPI as the payment method.
Scan the on-screen QR code or enter the VPA.
Approve the payment in your UPI app.
“Payment Successful” appears, and your download begins.
How to Ask for Refunds?
In case you want a refund of a Steam purchase where you used UPI as the payment method, follow the steps mentioned below:
Open Steam and go to Help → Steam Support.
Select Purchases and find the UPI transaction.
Click “I’d like to request a refund.”
Choose a reason and confirm it was paid via UPI.
Enter your UPI transaction reference.
Submit the request and await confirmation; refunds arrive in 24–48 hours.
The release of CS2 not only shifted the game’s dynamics, but it also triggered a wave of change throughout the entire esports scene, narrowing the gap between teams competing at different levels of the game. For the longest time, fans paid no heed to the teams competing in tier-2 of Counter Strike, but with said teams delivering jaw-dropping performances against the teams from tier-1 teams which begs the question, how are Tier-2 CS teams so competitive?
In this article, we will try to uncover what the little things are that made a massive difference in the performance of an average CS2 team and why tier-1 should look out for them in big events.
What is Tier-2 CS2?
The league of teams competing just below the top tier of CS2 is generally perceived by the Counter-Strike fans as tier 2. These teams compete in leagues of their own where the prize money may not be a flashy as tier-1, but hunger and the competitive nature of the teams are second to none, making it a very tough tier to stay consistent on.
Why Is Tier-2 More Competitive Now?
With the launch of CS2, a relearning curve was introduced, making it tough for most players to adapt quickly. As a result, those from tier 2 who managed to grasp it more quickly than many in tier 1 were able to bring their team’s performance up to the level of the latter.
Tier-1 players, who had mastered the game for a decade, were suddenly thrown into a game with slightly different mechanics that required a process of adaptation.
Tier-2 players were up-and-coming, often with less experience and less rigidity, making it easier for them to adapt to the new game, thus reducing the skill gap.
Young Players Are Investments
As CS continues to grow, the esports scene has inculcated practices from more traditional sports like football. Investing in young talent is no longer an experimental idea for CS2 teams, given that once they start to perform at a high level, tier-1 teams with huge warchests come calling for them, and often the deals result in massive profits for the lesser-known organisation that nurtured this young gun at a nascent stage.
Tier-2 teams provide these young talents a stage to showcase their skills, and once they prove themselves, Tier-1 teams come calling, resulting in massive profits for the investors. Now that this has proven to generate profit, organisations are more inclined towards providing young talents with all the resources for them to perform at the highest level.
Every organisation investing in an Academy roster is a testament to the fact that heavy investment into young players not only generates revenue for the organisation but also provides the necessary talent for your main roster when it needs an overhaul. The likes of Spirit, NAVI, NiP, and Falcons are a few of the names with notable academy teams, and more organisations will follow suit.
As these talents get subjected to proper training, the level of these teams increases significantly to the point that they are capable of taking on the tier-1 rosters; thus, in an attempt to nurture talent, organisations are passively developing strong teams in the lower divisions of Counter-Strike.
Increase in the Number of Tournaments
Compared to earlier days, the number of professional teams has increased significantly, and as a result, more and more online tournaments are being hosted regularly. These tournaments often include lower-ranked teams from tier-1, and as a result, they get to clash with tier-2 teams, with the latter coming out on top more often than not, which begs the question whether these teams really deserved to be called second tier. Not only do they rival top teams, but they have repeatedly shown that the game is more competitive than it ever was, and as a result, the gap in the level of performance is reducing with every passing day.
We have seen a drastic shift in the qualification process for tier-1 tournaments, and over-reliance on best-of-one matches has resulted in more volatile outcomes. As a result, we find tier-2 tournaments getting better representation at the highest level of the game, and now that this has been established as a possibility, not every team is competing for the limited chances at playing in a tier-1 event.
If the recent Major is anything to go by, we witnessed several lower-ranked teams come out with respectable positioning, which was something completely unprecedented in the earlier days of the game.
Resources Available to Tier-2
For the longest time, the best coaching, analysis, and environment to grind were provided to the teams at the top, which created a massive gap in the quality of the teams between tier-1 and tier-2. As these lesser-known teams are getting access to the resources, a visible improvement in their performance can be noticed from their results, making their team more competitive than ever.
In today’s time, we have teams with chefs, coaches, analysts and all the bells and whistles at their disposal preparing them every day to keep up with the top teams, naturally, this will bring a noticeable difference in their performances as the level of the game even at tier-2 is considered very high and it no longer can be hailed as a casual division.
Verdict
To put it simply, the success of tier-1 has prompted teams to explore the potential of tier-2 and which is a natural process of selection given yesterday’s stars are closing in on their retirement, paving the way for young guns from the lower-ranked teams. As the esports scene has continued to grow, more youngsters are considering it a serious career option, leading to tremendous competition in the lower leagues of the game.
As teams have figured out ways to monetise tier-2 either by winning the plethora of tournaments hosted regularly or by developing and selling talents to big names for millions, tier-2 is getting more attention from everywhere, leading to the rapid development of this area, which was neglected in the earlier days of CS:GO.
After what feels like an eternity of clunky payment methods and unreliable gateways, Steam has finally thrown Indian gamers a lifeline. The platform has quietly implemented UPI (Unified Payments Interface) as a payment option, allowing users to purchase games directly through their favorite payment apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm.
Steam Users Can Now Pay With UPI
For years, Indian Steam users have faced a frustrating cycle of workarounds. Want to buy that new indie darling or AAA blockbuster? You’d better hope your international transactions are enabled, or prepare to jump through hoops buying Steam wallet codes from Amazon Pay or other third-party platforms.
Steam’s previous attempt at UPI integration through Novaplay was, to put it mildly, a disaster. Payment failures, endless loading screens, and wallet credit delays made the experience so unreliable that most users avoided it entirely. Many gamers simply gave up and stuck to the tedious process of buying gift cards elsewhere.
The new UPI integration, powered by payment gateway Komoju, appears to be everything the old system wasn’t. Early users report that transactions are smooth and nearly instantaneous. The system immediately displays the QR code, processes payments without freezes, and credits funds to Steam wallets without delay.
This puts Steam on par with competitors like Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect. Both of these had already embraced UPI payments. Even Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Google Play Store have supported UPI for years, making Steam’s absence increasingly glaring in a market where UPI processes over 8 billion transactions monthly.
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Counter-Strike has forever required the quickest reflexes, the best aim, and the most cerebral strategy. In Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), though, an age-old controversy flared again with a ferocity never seen before: Peeker’s advantage. What had been a niche netcode idiosyncrasy is now the focal point of rage, pro-tier debate, and demands for structural re-engineering.
This article examines why Peekers’ advantage is significantly more painful in CS2, drawing on hard numbers, technical specifications, and personal experience to identify what’s broken and what could be improved.
What Is Peeker’s Advantage?
Fundamentally, Peekers’ benefit is a result of the way information moves on the internet. When two players confront each other, one in possession of an angle, the other swinging out to the moving player (the “peeker”) will usually see the defender a fraction of a second earlier before being seen in return. This split-second advantage occurs due to the inherent lag of networked play – latency, data packet journeying, and server response. During the heat of combat, it can be the difference between a clutch-kill and an instant death.
But in CS2, however, this advantage doesn’t just exist, it overwhelms, and not in a manner that feels like a reward for skill. Instead, all ranks have generally indicated that defending in CS2 feels like an exercise in futility; holding angles or “anchoring sites” is severely punished, even for the best prepared.
The New Netcode: Hope, Hype, and Harsh Reality
Valve introduced CS2 with the promise of a netcode revolution. The traditional tick-based update scheme was replaced with a new sub-tick architecture. It was intended to remove the so-called “odd tick,” a kind of technical glitch that could slow down or make certain actions less reliable. Rather, the server would now handle movements, shots, and interactions in “real-time,” essentially introducing parity between the peeker and the defender.
However, as the community soon found out, this improvement introduced a new generation of inconsistencies and lag-induced inequalities:
Sub-tick mechanics do not provide for instantaneous communication. Players continue to suffer from delays based on their ping, packet loss, and the fluctuations of their internet route.
Ping is king: In CS2, the delay between interactions is dependent on both players’ pings. Practically speaking, this results in having your opponent with a high ping, and you get sucked into their “lag world”, experience delays, and occasionally you die before you even catch sight of the enemy model.
Problems are evident, and unfair fights are common
>150ms
Strong lag, severe peeker’s advantage
What was supposed to be an equalizer has become a new fault line for inequality in every match you play.
The most significant effect of SMGA is perhaps felt within CS2’s strategy and game meta. In all of Counter-Strike’s rich history, having angles and holding out for an enemy to step over your crosshair was a discipline-based, map-reader, patience-oriented skill. In CS2, it gets rewarded. The peeker, fueled by systemic lag and at times erratic hit registration, can swing out and get the kill before defenders have time to realize what’s occurring.
The Birth of the Movement Meta
With static defense demoted by the rules of internet packets and code, players have adapted out of necessity. The “jiggle peek,” a rapid left-right movement to bait out shots or information, has become a core mechanic, not just a tactical flourish.
Passive playstyles are dead: Holding a tight angle increases your vulnerability; the game’s very architecture gives the edge to whoever moves first.
Aggression is all: The netcode change has shifted the meta to hyper-aggressive, unpredictable swings. This lowers the skill ceiling for site-holding, a core component of CS identity.
Technical Problems Outside of Ping
Peeker’s strength in CS2 doesn’t happen in a vacuum; its frustration arises from technical issues elsewhere:
Hitbox and animation desync: The player’s “hitbox,” the area that detects a bullet hit, has been found by community-tested research to not always overlap precisely with the model viewed by opponents. Crouching, sudden leaning, or exotic movement (erratic strafing) will have the defendable model lagging, or shots that fail to land even after correction. Valve has fixed some of these, but not all.
Packet loss and choke: Monitoring the network in CS2 (through net_graph) often reveals bursts of packet loss, where data just doesn’t get to the server. Each lost packet can lead to a brief freeze or stutter, which affords the moving and shooting player yet another advantage.
Can Peeker’s Advantage Be Mitigated?
True fairness is a fantasy, but pragmatic measures can reduce the hurt. Selecting local servers, playing with wire, and closing extraneous internet use can move experiences back into the “<60ms ideal.”
The net graph in-game is your ally. Look for packet loss or choke (above 1% is a warning sign) and fix router or connection problems. Get on board with the new meta jiggle peeking, uncertainty, and aggro. Nature punishes hesitation, not only opponents. The clearer Valve is about netcode updates and how they affect things, the better the community can adjust, provide feedback, and develop new solutions.
CS2 In the World of Today’s Shooters
Peeker’s edge is not unique to CS2. Other tactical shooters VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, and even Call of Duty, struggle with the same challenges. But within the world of Counter-Strike, where millisecond accuracy is critical, the stakes and emotions are higher.
In VALORANT, such defender disadvantages have pushed the meta in that direction, but Riot’s quick patch cycles and increased transparency with ping and network software have mitigated the backlash. Rainbow Six developers noted peeker’s advantage as an intrinsic part of online play, proposing server optimizations and player awareness as stopgaps. Nonetheless, no other franchise has the legacy or such lofty player expectations for fairness that Counter-Strike does.
Verdict
For the time being, Peekers’ edge persists as a sour fact, but one that has CS2 gamers united in a peculiarly shared battle. Reddit forums seethe, pro games hinge on lightning-fast peeks, and all clutch play is analyzed not only for mechanical mastery, but for potential errors within the code.
Can things improve? Optimists hold out hope that Valve’s sub-tick system, if adequately polished, could one day live up to its initial promise. Realists argue that the physical realities of the internet, the variability of gaming hardware, and the heterogeneity of worldwide player connections ensure that unfair deaths are always in the mix.
Nazara Publishing and nCore Games reveal that their modern Indian military shooter, FAU-G: Domination has a brand-new season of content called FAU-G Bharat League. Developed by Dot9Games, the new FAU-G: Domination Bharat League update includes hotly-requested features such as a competitive mode, iOS release, improved visuals, and a whole lot more.
FAU-G: Domination’s Biggest Update Yet
FAU-G Bharat League (FBL) as the name suggests, is a competitive mode which will allow its players to lock in and ascend the leaderboards in quest for glory and a prizepool worth Rs. 3,00,000.
“We’re grateful to our FAU-G community for their vocal support for our game,” say Deepak Ail, CEO and co-founder, Dot9 Games. “The number one request from our players has been an esports league for FAU-G: Domination and FBL is our first foray in this space. We can’t wait to share more with you in the months to come.”
You can check out the FAU-G Bharat League gameplay trailer right here:
FAU-G: Domination iOS Launch Today
Along with the FBL season comes the iOS version of the game as well. Now those with an iPhone 11 and above will be able to play FAU-G: Domination as well. You can download the iOS version of FAU-G: Domination later today.
Following player feedback post-launch, Dot9 has also included Free-For-All mode aka Lone Wolf. This allows players to dive into the action solo in quick matches where it’s every soldier for themselves. You can check out Lone Wolf gameplay here:
FAU-G: Domination: Android Improvements, Events, Progression Fixes, and More
Finally, FAU-G: Domination on low-end Android and iOS devices offers better visual fidelity and performance improvements with the latest update. The Tibba map is now reworked for a more balanced experience, featuring extended areas, improved spawn points, and more. Progression through the ranks in FAU-G: Domination has been fixed as well. The Dot9 Games team will be monitoring player feedback to improve progression and unlocks as the season progresses.
With the FBL season comes events. Through the day, players can accomplish these mini-missions such as showing off their weapon proficiency or winning on specific maps and be rewarded with SpiceGold — currency that can be used to redeem real-world prizes.
Through Dot9’s partnership with IceSpice, players can redeem Rs. 10L worth of prizes through events. The current MVP tag event lets players win an iPhone 16, limited edition FAU-G merchandise, discounted digital vouchers for Amazon, Zomato, and more. To access this, tap Store in the main menu and tap IceSpice. Ends on July 30, 2025.
Also new with this season is a new battle pass including fresh weapon skins, charms, frames, banners, avatars, stickers, and sprays. Check it out on the FAU-G: Domination store in-game to know more.
How to Play FAU-G: Domination Season 2
Players can access FAU-G: Domination’s new season of content including FBL, Free-For-All mode, and more by updating the app via the Play Store. Players using iOS can simply download the game on the App Store to jump right in. The FAU-G: Domination season update download size is about 1.5GB.
Let’s be honest – Counter-Strike skins can get pretty expensive. Factory new knives or a pair of rare gloves can fetch for hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, and not everyone is willing to spend that much on virtual items. However, if you’re not ready to break the bank – don’t worry, as there are still smart ways to build an inventory without going broke. Here are some ways to score great skins without overspending.
Everyone wants the big names – Dragon Lores, Printstreams, and Hyper Beasts. But here’s a little secret: there are tons of lesser-known skins that look just as good, and cost way less.
Before spending hundreds of dollars on the most popular skins, make sure to look out for other options. There are skins with clean designs in lower-tier rarities, or older collections that are out of style but still unique.
You’ll be surprised how far your money can go if you’re willing to look beyond what everyone else is using.
Time Your Purchases Right
Prices for CS2 skins change, whether it’s on the Steam Market or on third-party websites. Prices fluctuate, especially around:
Major updates
Operation releases
CS2 case drops
Major tournaments
If you’re eyeing a particular skin, but aren’t ready to fully commit the funds, you can wait for price dips and grab items when hype dies down, or the attention is focused elsewhere. Add items to your wishlist on third-party marketplaces and track prices over time – these can help you jump on deals when prices drop.
Trade Smart, Not Fast
Trading is one of the most reliable ways to upgrade your inventory without spending real money. Start with cheap skins, add value through upgrades or bonuses, and then work your way up with more trades.
You can often find people looking to trade up or downgrade for quantity. Make sure you’re updated with prices and know what’s in demand – keeping a keen eye can help you make profitable trades, even with a small starting budget.
Just make sure to stick with safe platforms and avoid overpaying scams, as those always target newer or impatient traders.
Wager Your Skins for a Chance at Big Upgrades
If you want to look for a little thrill and have a small balance to risk, skin gambling games can give you a shot at upgrading your loadout without buying or trading skins outright.
If you play CS2 crash, you can place a bet and watch a multiplier rise in real time. The goal is to cash out before the crash happens. It’s a quick and fun game, and sometimes, a small bet can turn into an expensive skin if you play your cards right.
Of course, it’s still gambling, so only play with what you’re okay with losing and always know when to walk away.
Collect Daily Promotions and Bonuses
Some platforms reward players with daily bonuses. Though these bonuses often range from cents, diligently collecting them daily can add up your balance – and eventually – you’ll collect enough to buy yourself something decent.
Don’t forget to warm Weekly Care Packages in the CS2 game itself, as you can earn a free weapon skin and case every week and sell them on the Steam Market for additional balance.
You Don’t Need to Spend Big to Look Good
All in all, you don’t need a $500 inventory to look good. By trading smart, timing your purchases right, and trying modes like CS2 crash, you can still score some great-looking skins on a budget.
The release of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) represents not only a technological upgrade from its older sibling CS:GO, but also a seismic shift in the competitive scene. Perhaps the most notable trend following CS2’s release has been the emergence of younger talent, many of whom are outperforming veteran players and capturing center stage at breakneck speed. Although veterans continue to add important strategic value, it is clear that up-and-coming talent is taking the stage during this new CS2 era. But why is that? Let’s dig deep into the forces driving this generation shift.
The New Wave: Numbers Don’t Lie
Statistical data from recent competitions and rankings indicate a phenomenal increase in the population of and performance by younger players. The average age of a CS2 professional player today is between 22 and 24 years, with close to 80% of the competitive environment made up of players under 26 years. Even more impressively, close to 30% are below 22 years of age.
Take players such as Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (19), Danil “donk” Kryshkovets (17), and Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo (17), who have already emerged as elite performers. M0NESY, the sniper for G2 Esports, has been praised for his rocket-fast reflexes and mechanical skills. Donk has not only been recognized as HLTV Rookie of the Year in 2024 but also for consistently leading his team to win in high-pressure games. These young stars aren’t playing, they’re winning.
Reflexes and Raw Mechanics
Youthfulness naturally goes hand-in-hand with faster reflexes and sharper mechanical ability. In high-stakes shooter titles such as CS2, in which milliseconds decide victory or defeat, these qualities mean all the difference. Young players will naturally have faster reaction times, better hand-eye coordination, and an ability to make quick decisions. Their micro-adjusting ability in fast-paced firefights frequently surpasses the muscle memory of veterans who are no longer able to match the breakneck pace of modern game play.
Also, most of the younger players have spent their entire lives with high-refresh-rate monitors, optimized training routines, and accurate aim trainers. This early introduction and rigorous practice environment develop a remarkable baseline skill that consistently surpasses that of older players who began during a different generation of gaming.
Another reason why the youth are succeeding at CS2 is that they have an absolute passion for becoming better. Having fewer personal obligations and greater freedom to manage their routines, young players can devote hours upon hours to practice, scrims, and theorycrafting. This grind culture has further been escalated by competitive platforms such as FACEIT Pro League (FPL) that provide young talent a platform to launch into professionalism.
In contrast to veterans who might be juggling careers, families, or exhaustion, young players tend to enter the stage with unrestrained motivation. They’re not playing to win, they’re playing to become known. This energy and motivation tend to be reflected in deeper skill curves and quicker overall development.
Adaptability in a Shifting Meta
CS2 brought a myriad of changes, such as improved visuals, new physics, and revamped grenade mechanics. As much as these updates were embraced as long-awaited, they had a learning curve. Players who were deeply rooted in CS:GO’s meta and muscle memory found these changes a major hurdle.
Younger players, on the other hand, have demonstrated an impressive capacity for adaptation. Unencumbered by the years of practice spent honing a now-obsolete meta, they’re more open to trying out the game’s new mechanics. Their playstyle is characterized by a flexible, adaptive approach that’s closer to CS2’s adaptive mechanics, and this allows them an edge over more seasoned players who are still adapting.
The Rise of Academies
The professional Counter-Strike business model now has an infrastructure that supports and accelerates young talent. Organizations now invest significantly in youth development via academy teams and scouting initiatives. Examples include NAVI Junior, Mouz NXT, and the FPL Challenger Series, which serve as incubators for high-potential talent.
These structures offer young players the tools, training, and exposure they require to glide effortlessly into the high-end teams. Consequently, we have 16- to 18-year-olds making a difference on the main stage, quite often doing better than veterans who have been around for more than ten years.
Social media and streaming sites have also been key to the emergence of the younger players. Sites such as Twitch, YouTube, and Twitter provide instant exposure and fan support. One highlight reel or clutch play can go viral, making a relatively anonymous teenager an overnight sensation.
This increased exposure not only enhances morale and acknowledgment but also makes these players more desirable to teams and sponsors. Veterans, while valued, can easily fall out of the loop in this fast-forward digital age unless they consistently play out-of-this-world ball.
Youth vs Experience
While the youth boom is undeniable, it should not be assumed that the contributions of veterans can be ignored. Individuals such as Finn “karrigan” Andersen and Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen are still demonstrating their value through leadership, experience, and profound strategic knowledge.
Most of the veteran players have switched into in-game leader (IGL) positions, where mechanical skill is less important than game sense and strategic insight. Their capacity to read opponents, regulate the tempo of the game, and guide up-and-coming teammates is still invaluable. Some of the most accomplished CS2 teams have reached equilibrium between young hyperactivity and old guard calmness.
What we’re seeing in CS2 isn’t so much the replacement of old timers by young guns, but a rebalancing. Teams are now seeking to combine high-octane mechanical ability with prudent leadership. The young guns provide the firepower; the old timers provide the brains.
Consider FaZe Clan or Team Vitality, for example. These teams have thrived by constructing around rising stars and establishing their lineups with veteran IGLs and support players. It’s a recipe that permits high-energy play without compromising on depth in strategies.
As CS2 develops further, so too will the profiles of its most successful competitors. Although the crop of young talent is certainly impressive at the moment, it will be the most successful crop that can continually adapt, learn, and evolve, regardless of age.
What sets CS2 apart is its ability to reward raw mechanical skill as well as advanced tactical acumen. The game is not only about being able to aim quicker, but also about thinking quicker when it matters. Those players who can excel at both levels, no matter what generation they hail from, will forge the future of Counter-Strike.
Verdict
The ascendancy of young talent in CS2 is not a trend but an indication of how the competitive gaming culture is changing. From better reflexes and responsiveness to institutional backing and meme-influenced exposure, young players have numerous benefits within the CS2 universe. But veterans are still decisive in determining the strategic framework of teams.
Finally, CS2’s destiny lies in the synergy of the harmonious combination of young guns and old heads. As long as balance is achieved, the game will keep going strong, treating fans to the best of both worlds.
The launch of CS2 was far from smooth, as most players did not respond well to the early version of the game. As time has gone by, the esports scene has stabilised to a great degree, as once again we can feast on top-tier CS2 action. While the esports events are back in full swing, it is difficult to see some of our favourite players from the previous generation struggle to adapt to the plethora of changes that the developers introduced with the new game.
While it is common in sports to see older players lose their skills to time, is there more to it than just ageing? CS2 not only brought visual changes to the game, but the game underwent a massive overhaul under the hood, which changed the in-game experience in more ways than one, leading to players showing adaptability issues.
While one would see many pro players from the last decade still delivering at the peak of their powers, several big names are nowhere to be found. In this article, we take a deep dive into uncovering how the legends of the game failed to adapt to Counter-Strike’s latest iteration.
A New Era, A Harsh Reality
The poor performance of our favourite players can be attributed to several reasons, but not one size fits all. Here we look into some of the possible reasons that came in the way of a smooth adaptation process for players.
The Subtick System Has Altered The Feel of The Game
While the system itself is technically an improvement over the previous one, it takes quite a while to adapt to, and not many players can do it at an older age after having mastered the same in CS:GO and CS 1.6 for over a decade. Those who were unable to get ahead of the relearning curve in time fell behind as the esports scene continued to grow without them.
The Subtick System posed the following challenges:
Movement is more floaty.
Input delay due to a discrepancy between the server and client sides.
Reworking the muscle memory honed over the years in CS:GO.
The Meta Has Shifted Toward Younger Reflex-Based Play
As the game became more precise and accurate, younger players with sharper mechanics benefited a great deal. Younger players historically have had better raw skill than an experienced player, who often tends to rely on other aspects. Given that players with better mechanics are being rewarded by the game’s design, younger players are outshining the older ones by a significant margin.
CS2’s current meta rewards:
Hyper-aggressive peaks and swings
Wide peeking more often
Raw mechanical aim
What Is Keeping Older Players Relevant in CS2?
Looking at the top 10 teams on HLTV, there are a handful of players who were playing at the highest level in CS:GO, and unsurprisingly so, most of them have taken a common approach to stay relevant in the game. apEX, karrigan, and falleN are all IGLs, while they were IGLs during their tenure in CS:GO too, and being an IGL lets them get away with poor statistics. Sacrificing themselves for the team and calling the shots thanks to the decades of experience that they have garnered leading teams across CS 1.6, CS:GO, and now in CS2.
Looking at riflers, hardly anyone besides NiKo and XANTARES has managed to maintain their position as feared riflers. They had a difficult time putting up numbers when compared to CS:GO. Most riflers moved away from some of the more active roles and into roles that can utilise their experience more than their mechanics. Not only does this show a massive downfall in the performances of the stars of CS:GO, but we also fail to understand that the process of natural selection is catching up to our favourite players.
How Did Some Stars Adapt Well?
If one examines the performances of ZyWoo, it is very hard to notice anything but an improvement over his previous performances. While he, ropz, and several other top players from CS:GO were able to adapt, most had to compromise on their roles or positions to keep up with the rest.
The likes of ZyWoo and ropz are exceptions to the mandatory CS2 nerf. We can write them off as exceptions, given how their talent remains unrivaled and few can keep up with Vitality at this point. It has been two years since CS2 came out, and while the game was unstable at a nascent stage, most players saw it as the end of an era, leading to a decline in motivation.
Declining Motivation and Burnout
Take s1mple, for example: it wasn’t until the very end of CS:GO that the highly coveted Major finally made it to his trophy cabinet. We can see the decline in his performance after winning the Major, while there is no rhyme or reason for why it happened, we can attribute it to a lack of motivation or burnout from grinding for years.
The steep learning curve and falling behind of the younger ones are likely to take a heavy toll on the motivation of the players. Many have tried but failed to keep up with the teams that were able to blend the young talents well into their teams.
It would be wrong to put all the blame on the overhaul that CS2 brought to our favorite game, but we must accept that our favorite players cannot deliver jaw-dropping performances forever, and just like any other sport, there comes a time when players must pass on the mantle.
CS:GO is more than a decade old, and it is hard for the same players to remain in their prime and adapt to a new game simultaneously. It is only normal that most can’t, even if they manage to do it, their experience has become more valuable than their skills, as teams utilise them in different ways and do not get lost in nostalgia. These players were young talents once and replaced the legends of the era that came before them. This is nothing more than the natural cycle of the game.
Most of our favourite players are either sipping a Pina Colada on some beach in Cuba or have accepted less glorious roles in teams or moved to a lower tier of competition. It is not what we have wanted, but the show must go on.
In a fast-paced, competitive FPS game like Valorant, every minute decision you make on the battlefield can be of utmost importance. From how you use your Agent’s abilities to your preferred choice of weapon in any given round, one wrong decision is often all it takes to lose grasp on a match that you otherwise should’ve won.
As we’ve already discussed the importance of aim and abilities in Valorant in a prior article, today we’ll be turning our attention to the game’s various weapons. Valorant offers a diverse arsenal of weapons for players to pick up depending on their preferred position, round economy, and other factors, but none of them divide the community like the age-old debate between the Vandal and the Phantom.
Every Valorant player, at some point in their journey to Radiant, has wondered whether the Vandal’s one-tap potential is worth the trade-off for the Phantom’s silencer and overall consistency.
But is there even a conclusive answer to this? Is one of these two Valorant rifles clearly superior to the other one?
Phantom vs Vandal Stats Comparison
To have a better understanding of which rifle is superior in Valorant, the first thing we should do is take a look at the individual stats of both guns.
The first metric of comparison here is the weapon damage, where the Vandal is the clear victor due to its ability to take out enemies with a single headshot at all ranges. Note that the Phantom is able to 1-tap enemies too, but only under the 20m mark, which is about the distance between the Attackers and Defender meeting points in Ascent B-Main (see image below).
Phantom can 1-tap enemies in Ascent B-Main
Prior to the Phantom buff that we saw in Valorant patch 9.10, the 1-tap headshot distance for the gun was only 15m.
At the time of writing, any enemy farther than 20m needs at least two bullets from a Phantom to kill, which is why it’s often compared to the M4A1-S in CS2, while the Vandal is compared to the AK-47.
Below, we have listed the detailed weapon stats of the Phantom and the Vandal in Valorant:
Phantom stats
Vandal stats
Taking a glance at the two images, it’s evident that the Phantom compensates for its lack of damage at longer ranges with its increased fire rate and a larger magazine size. While most of the other weapon stats remain the same for the two rifles, there are some additional nuances that we’ll get to later.
What’s Your Playstyle?
In Valorant, or any other tactical FPS, players generally take on various “roles” based on their preferred playstyles. Some prefer to get explosive entries onto bombsites, some are more adept at supporting their entry fraggers, while others tend to lurk away from their team in hopes of getting a sneaky pick and keep their enemies on their toes. Needless to say, your choice of weapon should be somewhat dependent on your preferred playstyle.
Generally speaking, if you find yourself taking a lot of close to medium-range engagements, Phantom should be your ideal pick, while players who like taking long-range duels often find more comfort in the 1-tap potential of Vandal.
While this is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind while choosing your preferred weapon, there are a bunch of other factors that should come into consideration before you make your pick. For instance, if you main a Controller, the Phantom lets you rack up easy frags by spraying through your smoke without giving away your position. On the other hand, Agents with built-in escape tools like Jett and Chamber can make the most out of the Vandal by going for aggressive headshots and quickly disengaging.
The Hidden Factors
Other than the obvious stat differences that we’ve listed above, there are a number of hidden factors that influence which rifle performs better in different situations.
As mentioned earlier, Phantom’s suppressed shots give it a clear advantage in situations where you’re trying to spam through smokes, but did you know that its bullets are also completely silent to enemies more than 40m away?
Additionally, the Vandal can also feel extremely punishing in “off” games where you’re unable to connect consistent headshots. At times like these, it can be better to pick up the Phantom and go for the spray and pray instead.
Lastly, what not many players realize is that the Phantom has much better first-shot accuracy when compared to the Vandal. For the same reason, despite being better at long ranges in theory, the Vandal can feel rather inconsistent at landing headshots when your enemy is far away.
Despite this, the Vandal still remains the go-to weapon for most players in maps like Breeze and Pearl, where the majority of engagements are long-range, while the Phantom finds its dominance in tighter, close-quarters maps like Split and Bind.
What the Pros Use (And Why That’s Misleading)
If you’re still confused about which weapon to pick in your ranked games, you might be tempted to check out the pro scene of Valorant to identify what the best players in the world use on the big stages.
At one of the biggest Valorant tournaments of the year, Masters Bangkok 2025, the Vandal enjoyed nearly twice the pick rate of the Phantom. As per data from THESPIKE, the Vandal was picked up 2,020 times over the course of the event, while the Phantom was only bought 1,047 times. However, these raw numbers might be a bit misleading.
Some further inspection reveals that the kill efficiency of the Phantom is much higher than that of its counterpart. The data shows that Phantom had a total of 2,587 total kills in the event, which equates to 2.47 kills per buy, while the Vandal only had 2,749 total kills, or roughly 1.36 kills per buy.
Taking a look at the map data from the event, we can see that while Vandal remains the most picked gun in every single map, the Phantom actually managed to get more total kills in Bind and Fracture.
From the stats above, it’s evident that your weapon choice should depend on the situation instead of blind preference for either gun.
Instead of sticking to one weapon all the time, you should choose the one that best suits your playstyle and the map you’re playing on.
Day-to-day performance matters too. If you’re struggling with landing consistent headshots, consider switching to the Phantom for its forgiving spray pattern, as opposed to the Vandal’s reliance on 1-taps.
Lastly, take note of your opponents’ playstyles and try to adapt to the situation. Fast-paced, close-range skirmishes may favor the Phantom’s spray control, whereas slower, long-range engagements might warrant the precision of the Vandal.
Verdict
It’s tough to objectively declare a clear winner between the Phantom and the Vandal. Both weapons have their own distinct strengths that they bring to the game, and their effectiveness often depends on how and where they’re used.
At the end of the day, what truly matters is personal preference, confidence in your aim, and your ability to read the situation.
Sticking rigidly to one weapon is likely to do you more harm than good and limit your adaptability. You should constantly look to make the most out of the arsenal provided to you and switch guns based on the map, your role, and the situation.
As a result, it’s also strongly recommended that players learn the spray control of both weapons. While you’ll find yourself spraying with the Phantom far more often than with the Vandal, there will still be situations where you’ll need to commit to a Vandal spray. Knowing how to handle both gives you the freedom to adapt based on the situation.
iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand, has announced its biggest esports tournament, iQOO Battlegrounds Series, a power-packed BGMI tournament executed by NODWIN Gaming. Backed by a whopping prize pool of INR 1 Crore, the tournament, starting July 21st, is set to bring together pros as well as community participation. iQOO has been supporting esports since its inception in 2020 and the brand is strengthening its commitment to esports with the first season of this tournament.
iQOO Battlegrounds Series to Feature INR 1 Crore Prize Pool
iQOO will run the Battlegrounds Series in a hybrid format, kicking off qualifiers on July 21 for the nation’s 31 best teams plus the iQOO Community Cup winner. With this structure, iQOO shows its commitment to nurturing emerging esports talent and offers aspiring athletes a platform to fight for a place at the top tier of competition. Finally, the tournament will culminate in a live, grand LAN finale from August 8 to August 10, showcasing the best of high-octane BGMI action in India.
Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, said, “At iQOO, we believe the future of gaming lies in building meaningful opportunities for the esports community. The iQOO Battlegrounds Series is not just a tournament—it’s our flagship gaming IP, designed to bring the best teams in India to the grand stage. This initiative further reinforces iQOO’s identity as a performance-driven brand rooted in innovation and technology, with esports serving as the perfect confluence of both. We’re excited to support India’s top gaming talent by providing a platform that celebrates skill, passion, and ambition. With this, we aim to elevate India’s esports ecosystem to the next level.”
Gamers now use gaming as the chief measure of smartphone performance, so iQOO designs its Flagship, Neo, and Z Series phones to satisfy performance enthusiasts at every price point. By bringing esports professionals into R&D, iQOO has carved out a niche in the gaming community and builds devices that deliver unmatched performance, speed, and reliability for professional play.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, added, “This collaboration is a convergence of performance-driven innovation, grassroots talent development, and world-class tournament execution. To us, the iQOO Battlegrounds Series is more than just another event, it’s a step forward in shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact esports ecosystem in India which we always thrive for. We’re proud to work alongside iQOO in building something that not only captures the competitive spirit and rising potential of Indian esports, but provides it an impetus”
Abhishek Aggarwal, Co-founder, Trinity Gaming, said, “The iQOO Battlegrounds Series is a statement of intent. It brings performance, creators, and competition under one banner. We’re excited to bring this to life in partnership with iQOO and NODWIN Gaming.”
With the mobile esports scene evolving rapidly, this collaboration signals a powerful shift in how tournaments are built, talent is nurtured, and fans are engaged.
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