Hot topics from Reddit: Is NAVI finished? A thief on the pro scene? Hate for Liquid? Easter eggs and Counter-Strike drama!
Reddit is the heart of the Counter-Strike community, where players, esports fans, and skin enthusiasts gather to share discoveries, argue passionately, and reminisce about the good old days of CS:GO. Over the past week, subreddits dedicated to CS2 have traditionally exploded with heated discussions. We’ve selected the most exciting topics that captured players’ minds and will tell you about them in this article. Let’s go!
Easter Egg on Mirage: Gabe is Watching Us!
Who said there’s no room for fun in CS2? One extremely attentive player uncovered an Easter egg on the Mirage map – a reference to the famous photo of legendary Gabe Newell, whom the community both adores and blames for all mortal sins simultaneously. The screenshot of this discovery caused a real sensation. Comments are filled with delight: “Valve, you still got it!” and “Now I’ll be looking for Gaben in every corner of the map!” Players began recalling other Easter eggs, from hidden inscriptions to strange textures, and sharing instructions on how to find this one. But jokes were inevitable: “Gaben is watching to make sure we buy skins.” This discovery reminded everyone that VALVE, despite criticism, still knows how to wink at the community by hiding something fun in the game code – or is it just players’ wild imagination?
Viewmodel Drama: Left Hand or Right?
Streamer and English-speaking analyst Mauisnake decided to check whether viewmodel settings (left/right hand and their position) give an advantage when shooting through smoke and shared the results. Spoiler: the difference is minimal. But try convincing Reddit of that, since NiKo himself plays with such hand positioning! Comments turned into a battlefield: some players shared their setups, others accused Mauisnake of clickbait. There were also those who complained about CS2’s limitations: “Where are my custom viewmodels from CS:GO?” This topic revealed how obsessed players are with every little detail that might give even a 1% advantage. And you know what, that’s pure Counter-Strike – arguing about pixels until you’re blue in the face.
Jkaem and the Dark Side of BC.Game
Esports dramas are a separate genre on Reddit, and the exclusion of Joakim “jkaem” Myrbostad from BC.Game became a real sensation in recent days. Jkaem, a talented and experienced player, found himself on the bench, and fans immediately pounced on BC.Game, recalling their disqualification for cheating and rumors about financial problems. “Jkaem deserves better than this circus,” writes one commenter. And when rumors surfaced about jkaem’s gambling debts, the discussion turned into a soap opera. Someone even posted links to leaked documents, and Reddit exploded: “This isn’t esports anymore, it’s a TV series!” Analyst kassad joined this story, claiming that jkaem still owes him $50,000, and according to his statements, the Norwegian’s total debt turns out to be more than $300,000. Despite the drama, some community members support the player, hoping he’ll sort out his debts and find a worthy team. This story reminded everyone how fragile the world of second-tier esports can be.
Australians vs. Liquid: Revenge for jks
When Australian fans at IEM Melbourne 2025 began booing Team Liquid, Reddit immediately wondered: “Is this because of jks?” The exclusion of Australian Justin “jks” Savage from Liquid’s roster broke the hearts of local fans. “Jks is our hero, how dare they!” one fan writes angrily. Comments were divided: some call the booing a display of passion and solidarity, others – childish behavior. By the way, there’s also a theory that Australian fans’ dislike for Liquid stretches back to when they took the Intel Grand Slam at IEM Sydney 2019. Back then, everyone disliked Liquid because they destroyed absolutely all established favorites and claimed the IGS in just a couple of months. This story isn’t just about esports, but about national pride and fans’ pain when their idol is pushed to the sidelines. Reddit once again showed that CS is not just a game, but emotions that overflow.
NAVI Falls: End of an Era?
NAVI has always been considered synonymous with greatness in CS, but the news of their exit from the top 10 VRS ranking shocked Reddit. “NAVI outside the top 10? Is this the end of the world?” jokes one commenter, but there’s anxiety behind the jokes. Fans dig into the reasons: necessary roster changes, weak play from leaders, etc. “Time to bring back the old s1mple,” many dream. Despite the pessimism, there are optimists who believe the team will return. This topic revealed how deeply the community cares about legendary organizations and fears that CS2 is changing the game not for the better.
VAC Bans: Are There No Innocents?
“Third VAC ban in two weeks, I’m not a cheater!” – a soul’s cry in one post caused a storm of emotions. The author insists he’s a victim of false bans, and Reddit immediately split into two camps. Some advise checking background programs and writing to VALVE support, others sarcastically write: “All cheaters say that.” Comments are full of stories: someone lost an account with expensive skins, while someone else swears that VAC bans for harmless macros. Of course, the old tune of “VALVE, where’s a normal anti-cheat?” started up again. Have you ever been banned by mistake? Share your stories in our social networks!
Wingman: Forgotten, but Loved
The Wingman mode, that dynamic 2v2 in CS2, received a rare moment of glory thanks to a Reddit post. “Wingman is the best mode, why has VALVE abandoned it?” asks the author, and Reddit picks up: “Bring back the maps, give rewards!” Players share stories of how they and a friend dominated in Wingman, and suggest new maps, like Dust II. But there are sad moments too: “I play once a month because nobody enters the queue.” Comments are full of nostalgia for times when alternative modes were in the spotlight. Do you like Wingman mode? It’s perfect for a quick match, isn’t it?
Astralis for Sale: What Will Happen to the Legend?
The news that Astralis is considering selling the organization hit fans like a grenade in a closed room. “Astralis is CS history, how can they sell?” wonders one commenter. Reddit is buzzing: some fear the team will be bought by questionable sponsors, others blame falling results and fan base over the past few years. “If Astralis leaves, I’ll stop watching esports,” a fan dramatically declares. But there’s hope too: “Maybe new owners will restore order and return Astralis to the top?”
Conclusion: Reddit as a Mirror of Counter-Strike
These topics are just the tip of the iceberg, but they perfectly show what makes Counter-Strike so special. It’s a game where an Easter egg on Mirage evokes as much emotion as NAVI falling out of the top 10. Where debates about smoke and viewmodels are as heated as esports dramas. Where players are ready to discuss voice chat for hours or complain about VAC, but still return to the game because they love it to madness. Reddit is the place where the community lives, breathes, and yes, sometimes curses the developers. But it’s precisely this passion that makes CS not just a game, but an entire culture.
