Valve is cracking down additional on affiliation with case opening, pores and skin buying and selling, and pores and skin playing companies, with new guidelines proscribing skilled Counter-Strike 2 groups from leveraging them as sponsors.
Past its round-based gameplay, Counter-Strike has lengthy been identified for its in-game economic system. Varied weapon skins have been valued at tens of hundreds of {dollars}, with one even topping the seven-figure mark.
As such, we’ve seen loads of playing platforms develop in prominence, alongside pores and skin buying and selling websites in addition. Nonetheless, Valve has been pushing to attenuate this facet of the expertise of late, they usually’ve not been alone. YouTube has additionally made efforts to stop promotion of CS2 pores and skin playing on its platform.
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Now, a brand new rule replace from Valve is forcing additional restrictions. CS2 esports groups will not be capable of promote sure sponsors like earlier than.
As first reported by Dust2.us, Valve up to date its Match Operation Necessities and Restricted Recreation Match License on December 9, 2025.
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As a part of the brand new language, extra stringent broadcast restrictions are actually in place. In impact, it means case opening websites, together with pores and skin buying and selling or playing websites, can’t be marketed in any capability – sure, this contains on staff jerseys.
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Match organizers are required to “not distribute or show, together with on staff jerseys or in another content material that could be seen through the broadcast, any content material or materials that both violates Valve IP or the phrases of the Steam Subscriber Settlement.”
Pores and skin buying and selling and playing companies are distinguished sponsors of professional CS2 groups and star gamers.
Given simply how distinguished such companies and platforms have change into over time, a variety of professional CS2 groups are sponsored by them. In truth, three out of the highest 5 ranked groups on the earth at present are implicated by this rule change.
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Vitality is sponsored by Pores and skin.Membership, MOUZ is sponsored by G4Skins, and The MongolZ is sponsored by CSGOSKINS, all of which characteristic on the respective staff jerseys.
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As HLTV additional reported, nonetheless, some groups bought an early heads up on the rule change, and have swapped for non-sponsored jerseys forward of the Starladder Budapest Main 2025.
