The competitive aspect of CS2 is probably its most popular feature. Since the days of CS 1.6 players worldwide have been enjoying the fast-paced gameplay in a competitive setting. As one of the most popular eSports in gaming history, the Counter Strike franchise has been enjoying a thriving tournament scene for decades.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive introduced an official CS2 ranks system to the game, where each player who participated in the ranked gameplay was rewarded with an appropriate tile and rank, reflecting their skill and placing them in a particular skill division. Thanks to this feature, players who played ranked matches would be placed against opponents of a similar skill level, ensuring fair gameplay and avoiding CS2 smurfs.

While the CS:GO ranking system remained nearly untouched for over a decade, the introduction of Counter Strike 2 has significantly shook up the competitive scene. The new iteration of the game replaced the old ranking system with two separate competitive CS2 game modes: Competitive and Premier

The competitive mode was in many ways similar to its predecessor in CSGO, however, the premier was its own, completely new thing. Each player received their own ELO number in premier, and the mode was highly reminiscent of the popular format played in official CS2 tournaments.

Today, premier season 3 dropped on live servers, which brings a breath of fresh air with a little bit of changes as well. Here’s everything you need to know about CS2 premier season 3!

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In this article you’ll learn:

  • When will CS2 premier season end
  • When CS2 premier season 3 starts
  • When your premier rank expires

The wait is finally over for players eager for new content, as Season 3 brings exciting updates and features.

…and more!

What is CS2 Premier Season 3?

As we’ve already mentioned, the premier ranked mode in CS2 was released with seasons in mind. The ranked mode takes place over a couple of months, during which players can participate in ranked matches to try and earn a premier rank, reflected by their individual premier rating ELO number. The matches take place on the active duty maps, where gamers are paired in teams according to their premier rating.

Premier season 2 started on 29/01/2025 and ended on 16/07/2025. Coincidentally, the CS2 premier season 3 started on 16/07/2025, and will most likely also last about half a year, after which premier season 4 will most likely roll out. In recent years, Valve has made more frequent changes to the map pool and season structure, reflecting ongoing improvements in the competitive landscape.

Just like with the previous season, any player who participated in the CS2 premier season 2 will have their CS2 rank reset on 16/07/2025 and will receive a rank medal in their profile reflecting their previous season performance.

Check out this video by MrMaxim to learn more about changes added in premier season 3. For a comprehensive overview, you can also review the full set of new CS2 update patch notes released with the season:

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What Are the Changes Added in CS2 Premier Season 3?

While CS2 season three is definitely something that got the community hyped up, there are far more additions to the game besides the commemorative premier season medal. Valve also dropped some information regarding some balancing improvements that will be introduced when the new update drops. Players are encouraged to review the new features and their own performance to make the most of these changes. Additionally, the update introduces enhanced security features to further protect the gaming environment.

Anubis replaced by Vertigo in the Active Duty Pool

In season 2 Valve already announced that Anubis, one of the least popular maps in the game, will be replaced by Vertigo, marking the return of Vertigo to the active duty map pool after it was previously removed in favour of Overpass. Some players were shocked by this decision, considering that Vertigo was removed due to being a controversial map. Many players complained about the lack of balance, claiming that the map was favorising the Terrorist team, making it easier to defend bombsites, and in turn providing poor ranked experience. Accidental falld deaths are also a thing on this map, making it quite difficult to play.

Incendiary grenade changes

The season 3 update has also brought in some balance changes to the game. One of them is a small but significant change to how incendiary grenades work. The flame from the grenade now spreads out faster, occupying the space quicker. This adjustment is especially useful for defending bombsites, as it allows Counter-Terrorists to block or delay enemy advances more effectively. This is meant to counter the Terrorist team rushes, making it harder for the Terrorists to outmanouver the CTs, especially on maps like Vertigo. Keep in mind, however, that this change only affects the CT incendiary grenade, and not the Molotov available to the Terrorists.

MP9 changes

In season 2, the MP9 SMG has proven to be very effective, so much, that the CT team got a significant edge over the Terrorists early-game and in eco rounds. To balance this out, the MP9 received a small nerf in CS2 premier season 3. The SMG now has a more difficult-to-control CS2 spray pattern, as well as less accuracy, making it more difficult to control, but still very effective.

CT reward changes

Perhaps the most significant changes that will affect everyone’s games is the change in structure of rewards to the counter terrorists (CT team). With the release of CS2 premier season 3, the counter terrorists now receive a shared amount of money for every terrorist eliminated during the round, whether they win or lose. This small change to the CS2 economy is again meant to even the balance out, and make it easier for the CTs to bounce back from bad rounds.

Trade Protected Items

One of the new features introduced in CS2 premier season 3 is the trade protection for your CS2 items. To fully benefit from these trade protection features, it is important to have a secure and verified account. This new option has been added to counteract any CS2 trading scams and to help prevent scam attempts targeting your account. In brief terms, this means that you can now reverse your CS2 trades after an individual appeal, especially in cases where a scam has occurred. While each reversal will be individually considered by Valve employees, this will make scamming players significantly harder, and will definitely have a positive impact on CS2 trading.

Rank Recalibration

Everyone who played at least 10 ranked CS2 in premier season one will receive a medal signifying the ranks they scored in the season prior, while at the same time getting a new CS rating. This medal serves as a sign of your performance and achievements in the previous season. Your season one premier rating won’t carry over to the next season, and instead, you’ll receive a recalibrated based on your individual skill. While you’ll have to receive a new rank entirely, the recalibration system ensures that your new rank won’t be too far off from the one you received in the previous season. This means that you won’t be able to jump from silver elite to global, but you’ll still have a shot at improving your rank, provided you do well in your placement matches.

In Conclusion

Premier Season 3 was certainly a big change to the game, but the balance changes will hopefully provide an interesting competitive environment. If you want to keep up with the updates introduced in premier season 3, make sure to regularly check out our blog, where we post more CS news, guides, top lists, and even offer free CS skins giveaways!

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FAQ

When does CS2 Premier Season 3 end?

CS2 Premier Season 3 began on July 16, 2025, and is expected to last around six months, just like Season 2. The end date will likely fall in January 2026, when Season 4 launches.

Will my CS2 Premier rank reset each season?

Yes. At the start of every season, your Premier CS Rating resets, and you'll need to recalibrate by playing placement matches. Your performance from the previous season affects your starting point, but not your exact rank.

How to get the CS2 Premier Season 3 badge?

To earn your Season 3 badge, you need to complete at least 10 Premier placement matches during the season. Once the season ends, the badge will be added to your profile based on your final Premier Rating.

How long does it take to lose Premier Rating in CS2?

In CS2 Premier Season 2 and 3, you don’t immediately lose rating for inactivity. However, visible ratings may disappear from your profile after 30 days of not playing ranked matches, requiring one match to restore visibility.