Valve unveils rulebook for hosting licensed events from 2025

17-7-2024 01:15

Valve's new comprehensive rulebook details requirements for tournament organizers to receive licenses for large-scale events.

Valve has released a "Tournament Operating Requirements" rulebook, a set of rules and regulations for how tournament organizers can receive a license for hosting events in Counter-Strike 2 from 2025.

This uncovers new details on Valve's previously announced plan to impose restrictions on invitations to large-scale events in order to combat franchising, which had become widespread in ESL and BLAST events in recent years, and create a more "level playing field when ability is the only limit to teams' success."

Ranked and Unranked events

The new rulebook first makes a distinction between "Ranked" and "Unranked" events — those that will contribute to Valve's Regional Standings (VRS) and those that will not.

While Ranked events have to comply with strict rules on what teams can be invited based on the Regional Standings and qualifiers, Valve also allows organizers to host Unranked events without restriction on invitations. However, the total compensation for the individual Unranked events cannot exceed $100,000, and the compensation for all events hosted by the same licensee within a year cannot exceed $250,000.

Most organizers of lower-tier online tournaments currently exceed that yearly amount, which means that, if they choose similar budgets for the following year, they will have to apply for Ranked licenses from 2025 and adhere to the comprehensive set of rules.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 and invite limitations

Another new distinction made in the rulebook are Tier 1 and Tier 2 events.

Tier 1 events will be required to invite teams starting from the team ranked first in the Regional Standings, feature at least 16 teams across the closed qualifier and main event portion, and feed at least eight qualified teams into the main event. Tier 2 events can, if they choose to feature direct invitations from the VRS, only invite teams ranked ninth or lower. Both can, but are not required to, be supplemented by open qualifiers.

Some of the biggest limitations on Ranked events include being required to invite 1.5 times the number of teams who will compete in the Main Event via the Regional Standings. Half of the teams competing in the Main Event can be invited directly, while the rest has to go through a closed qualifier.

However, a closed qualifier can simply mean one of the stages of the same tournament, as shown in the example below.

Example: Under these rules IEM Cologne or Katowice can retain their current format, inviting the top eight ranked teams straight to the main event and the remaining 16 to the Play-in, because the Play-in technically counts as a Closed Qualifier.

While most invites for Ranked events have to be made according to the Valve Regional Standings, Valve also allows two Wildcard invites for every eight teams competing in the Main Event. The Wildcard teams however have to feature at least three players who at one point in the past 12 months were a member of a top-eight roster on the VRS, or have won a Tier 1 event in the past 12 months. These can also not be invited directly to the main event.

Wildcard events

Tournament organizers are allowed to host one Wildcard event for every three Tier 1 events completed. These can feature an unlimited number of Wildcard invites, provided the teams invited comply with the aforementioned rule.

Other

The rulebook also details requirements on announcement dates for tournaments and additional information such as the location, qualifiers, prize pool and more. For example, all Tier 1 events held in 2026 must be announced by January 1, 2025 — up to almost two years in advance.

As Valve previously announced, tournament operators will be required to publish comprehensive information on how they compensate teams for attending their events. This will include any guaranteed payments for appearances, media rights fees and other revenue shares.

In Section 5 called "Competition / Integrity," Valve also stressed their stance against exclusivity agreements, discriminatory treatment of teams and potential conflicts of interest.

The new requirements will offer an early look at the calendar of coming years on the heels of an already packed tournament schedule for 2025: A whopping 23 events are planned for the coming year after PGL and StarLadder revealed plans to return to regularly hosting Counter-Strike events.

StarLadder announces plans to return to CS

first they ruin the game, next they ruin the esports scene, thank you valve!

2024-07-17 01:18

34 replies

You either didn't read or don't know how to.

2024-07-17 01:25

369

19 replies

How is reducing the maximum prize money teams can play for in a year helping anyone?

2024-07-17 01:34

17 replies

How is your comment relevant to the article at hand?

2024-07-17 01:43

16 replies

Maybe read bro? > However, the total compensation for the individual Unranked events cannot exceed $100,000, and the compensation for all events hosted by the same licensee within a year cannot exceed $250,000. > Most organizers of lower-tier online tournaments currently exceed that yearly amount, which means that, if they choose similar budgets for the following year, they will have to apply for Ranked licenses from 2025 and adhere to the comprehensive set of rules.

15 replies

They'll just make clones to bypass this.

2024-07-17 01:55

Well, it's their game. They get to set the rules.

2024-07-17 01:56

4 replies

I wonder what kind of a law regulates this licensing thing.

2024-07-17 08:47

This is Very Good. They have to Announce Events 1 Year Ahead. i like that!

2024-07-17 12:27

doesn't mean those rules won't suck

2024-07-17 14:23

lol

2024-07-18 19:46

nvm

2024-07-17 02:02

and how is that a bad thing lol? what exactly is stopping them from applying for ranked if they can already afford paying out high prize money

2024-07-17 03:05

2 replies

Because you can't have an invite only tournament for $251,000 that invites teams who will never win a ranked tournament

2024-07-17 14:22

because promising teams won't be able to prove their worth. they play for <$100k on unranked tournaments. meanwhile tier 1 and 2 tournaments will only feature the same teams as always, no different teams. valve just killed cs2 scene.

2024-07-17 19:39

then make ur tournament following the Ranked Rulebook. There u go

2024-07-17 03:13

It sounds like a good thing. Either amateur teams receive rankings which may entitle them to join qualifiers or they play against professional teams who look to farm their rankings.

2024-07-17 05:25

Most organizers – – will have to – – adhere to the comprehensive set of rules. "how am i supposed to have fun with all these rules?"

2024-07-17 10:44

"Valve also allows organizers to host Unranked events without restriction on invitations. However,.." you conveniently left out the whole context of this only applying to unranked events that no t1 team will care about

2024-07-17 10:58

this is a good thing, makes t1 LANS way more intense, currently we get like 1 or 2 of them every other month, the hype isn't really that good. but when theres only a few people will be glued to their seat and it ill mean much more for the players/teams/casters

2024-07-21 19:10

i bet on the second possibility

2024-07-17 16:32

0/8 They're actually fixing it.

2024-07-17 01:26

1 reply

true

2024-07-17 15:09

how tf did they ruin esports?

2024-07-17 01:27

9 replies

By killing lower tier scene by implementing total compensations for events forcing them to either make lower price pools(less money for lower tier players=less people griding it or more matchfixing to afford food) or made it a ranked event and ranked events will be for t1-t2 teams and some lucky ones making from open quals instead. Idea is good but need to change the ranking system part and the ranking itself cuz valve ranking is like least accurate one out of any list we have here 🤷

8 replies

the thing is that most t1 teams won't accept the invites from lower tier tournaments, therefore the invites will go to the best teams that do accept them, it's simple.

2024-07-17 02:58

3 replies

+1 There are going to be atleast 23 T1 LANs in 2025. Why would T1 teams accept the invites to these online tournaments when they don't have the time to play them because they are playing in bigger tournaments?

2024-07-17 08:32

They might choose some online tournaments if they can't play in LANs from different problems (visas, personal issues, scheduling conflicts, etc)

2024-07-17 11:00

That's why all t1 tournaments need to announce their schedule one year in advance, so all the t1 organizations/teams can pick and choose, and also to mitigate visa issues.

2024-07-18 13:56

what? No you read wrong 100k in 1 tournament if its unrank aka dont follow valve rules small events can still run like fragadephia and what ever are the EU equivalent is and other regions so tier 2 lets say a 16 team event from 9 and under so the lowest ranked team is a all invite tournament would be #37 I don't know any tier 2 event that is 100k that would crazy good and makes people not throw stupid amount of money to go bankrupt. And the 250k is for one T.O in a year teams can still play with other T.Os its not going to be just blast and ESL anymore

2024-07-17 03:01

cct 2023 online finals prize pool was 200 000$ cct global finals 2024 is 500 000$

2024-07-17 11:08

CCT can also apply for Tier 2 Ranked status (which already means none of the Top 8 will be present), teams can decline invites after all. It's just writing out a formal e-mail for each team, it's 5-10 min. of extra effort per team and that would be enough to fulfill their obligation that they extended an invite, easy peasy. When everything is said and done, they'll still find plenty of teams willing to compete, especially with the incentive of trying to garner ranking points to move up in the world.

2024-07-17 12:49

1. Ppl do not live out of prizepools, it's usually not even a relevant thing for most regions. Europe for exampe, u should grind a ton and get consistent good positions to make a living. 2. Players do not fix matches to "pay for food", they do it cuz they are 20yo-ish who want ez money

2024-07-17 03:16

Why do you think that these changes are bad?

2024-07-17 01:40

TOTAL FACEIT DEATH

2024-07-17 06:47

nice bro fix vac

2024-07-17 01:20

nahhh ☠️

ok but fix the game

2024-07-17 01:21

Cool

How does the Competition/Integrity rule relate to the orgs in the EWC partner program? They are getting a payout unrelated to performance from the same entity that owns ESL (and to my knowledge ESL are running the whole EWC event).

2024-07-17 01:24

5 replies

Yeah but, doesn't all this start next year bruv?

2024-07-17 02:53

They can do it this year but not next year. ESL and Saudi will have to figure that out.

2024-07-17 07:37

Well, they don't receive direct invites for being in that program and still need to qualify to farm that org competition points, so there you go

2024-07-17 07:52

"Any agreement between Licensee and Teams or Athletes needs to be non-discriminatory and identical for all Teams or Athletes. In particular, if Licensee is going to share revenue or otherwise provide financial support, then such support must be equivalent for all Rosters" This can't happen in 2025, since only teams that are part of the program can receive revenue. And if only the partnered teams get money, then the financial support isn't equivalent for all rosters.

2024-07-17 08:38

OK, then exclude CS results from the program and get the money for all other results and PR. I will be VERY surprised if Valve manages to shut it down for all games ith that one

2024-07-17 09:34

The Strokes

2024-07-17 01:31

Common Valve W

2024-07-17 01:37

Yeah such a W that the winner of the Saudi Esports World Cup will be ranked the same as the winner of Cologne

2024-07-19 20:20

blast: "BLAST Rivals is where the top eight teams from the Valve Global Ranking face off in a battle to determine the best of the best." valve: no banana cup moment

2024-07-17 01:41

6 replies

Valve: Only if 5th-16th have to win their way in plus you may send in two wildcards (in place of 15th/16th) and tier 2 winners if needed, then you have your rivals

2024-07-17 02:44

they could make it an unranked event i guess

2024-07-17 03:41

Won't work, every event of theirs has to be ranked due to the huge prize pool they give out per event, eclipsing the 250K threshold for the year.

2024-07-17 07:40

The way I understood it, they could still have ranked events, but also host unranked events, no? That would mean all their other events would be ranked, and then Rivals would be unranked, both of the semi-annual Rivals giving out the max allowed 100k and that would be all good and well, right? Or maybe I'm just completely misunderstanding the rule lol

2024-07-17 08:50

As far as I know, Rivals could be 100K each if both are Unranked for the 250K limit, that works. Given BLAST normally has like ridiculous prize pools for their events though, I think they're gonna have to weigh up their options and change some things they planned for next year.

2024-07-17 10:21

Blast Rivals could most likely operate as a "Wildcard Event"

2024-07-17 17:36

fantastic changes, I was worried but they're perfect

2024-07-17 01:47

> However, the total compensation for the individual Unranked events cannot exceed $100,000, and the compensation for all events hosted by the same licensee within a year cannot exceed $250,000. > Most organizers of lower-tier online tournaments currently exceed that yearly amount, which means that, if they choose similar budgets for the following year, they will have to apply for Ranked licenses from 2025 and adhere to the comprehensive set of rules. Nice lets ruin t2-t4 scene yuhu

2024-07-17 01:53

only for unranked? How is that a problem?

2024-07-17 02:00

7 replies

Because t3 or lower teams (mostly) won't be able to qualify to ranked (t1 or t2) events?

2024-07-17 02:04

tier1 teams won participate in those events at all, a lot of t2 as well i suppose. we need more ranked events in order to rank lower tier teams.

2024-07-17 02:23

ranked doesnt equal tier1 lmao

Correct. Ranked equals tier1 and tier2, which is what I said.

2024-07-17 03:07

you either didnt read the rulebook or are being purposefully dishonest because Valve don't even differentiate tiers further than 1 and 2. i.e there is no tier3, 4 or 99 according to them. therefore, any team outside of tier1 is tier2

2024-07-17 03:14

Whether VALVE differentiate tiers further than 1 and 2 changes nothing whatsoever about what I said. Just change 't3 or lower teams' in #29 to 'teams outside of top 50 ish' if that makes you happy.

2024-07-17 03:19

open qualifiers that didnt exist for like 90% of the tournaments are now also a thing

2024-07-17 03:20

Weird. Why reduce prize money?

to force bigger teams to play in ranked events only i would assume.

2024-07-17 02:34

because make big events actually competitive not some nepotistic partner shits

2024-07-17 08:10

Outside of making partnered events impractical at any capacity, it wont change much, instead forcing organizers (especially smaller ones) to let more teams through the qualifiers

2024-07-17 03:00

I haven't commented on anything in HLTV for god knows how long. This is interesting. I LIKE this, but I also worry heavily over this. Valve is essentially forcing the scene to pop the inflation bubble it's been making for itself, which long term is going to make the scene more sustainable. I SEE the vision they are going for, in making consistent competition and being good at doing that consistently a financial security through the invite system without them needing to directly pay out of pocket for it. I SEE what they are going for, but I'm honestly really worried about how the execution is going to be on this. One thing the article doesn't get well is that the $250,000 limit is only for their Unranked events in that year, and that say, these online tournaments can just fine function under the T2 label, where bigger teams likely aren't going to be as interested in playing the formats with all the other events on the table for them, already laid out ahead of time. The Tier 2 tournaments can use Open Qualifiers with their own limitations and rulesets so long as those rulesets are deemed fair. It will require adaptation, but it won't necessarily murder the scene, it'll just force the scene to evolve. The scene NEEDS some level of centralization, I am at least of that opinion, and I can see their vision but the beginning of 2025 is going to be a fucking WILD few months.

2024-07-17 03:26

yeah I worry about execution too. i hope it will be fair for lower teams to get chances as well because for me that has always been the charm of CS. But on the other hand, it kinda sounds like it might benefit them, so it really depends how it's implemented, can only wait and see what happens really ^^

2024-07-17 10:45

I think that ultimately, this change will benefit the Tier 2 teams more than anyone else, ironically, because it's going to provide a serious path forwards into Tier 1, even if they don't have the help of a big organization. Even if many people are decrying it because it kills Cinderella runs, it creates a way different kind of story alike it. I think especially sitting on these changes for a bit longer, that this will definitely do some good for the scene ultimately, and that the biggest worry for me might be the rankings themselves, and yet, I think those will also figure themselves out quickly once most tournaments in the year are going to be using and affecting the rankings more properly.

2024-07-19 14:09

Dubs all around but the unranked limit seems a bit low, I suppose its fine though since most TOs are gonna want to make sure their tournaments are ranked so they can actually get teams to join

2024-07-17 03:27

The players need a union and a cba

Edit: I’m stupid and can’t read apparently

2024-07-17 04:57

Interesting to see how it will work out

2024-07-17 05:35

Compared to last announcement those arent as bad but fix yo game first twats

2024-07-17 05:56

so this is what valve has been coming up the update we were all waiting for

2024-07-17 05:57

now they want to limit the prize money for certain tournaments? that's too much, if it was riot everyone would be complaining about it

2024-07-17 07:03

for UNranked tournaments sure, but no pro tier-1, tier-2 and tier-3 team should care about them. for an amateur 5 friends teams, the prize money is more than enough.

2024-07-17 08:26

riot barely ever even let other people host tournaments lmfao their valorant esports scene outside of their main events is an absolute joke can't reduce the prize pool if there is no prize pool to reduce...

> "and create a more "level playing field when ability is the only limit to teams' success" > remove open qualifiers from Major

2024-07-17 08:02

Ability not luck

2024-07-17 09:25

So you are trying to tell me that Ecstatic went through open, close and RMR with luck?

2024-07-17 09:26

Ecstatic would have made it with this system. Open quals were just unneeded stress for them. BNE on the other hand. Yes, luck.

2024-07-17 09:30

Without open they wouldn't even be invited lol, they were ~#80 before 3rd qualifier

ok github.com/ValveSoftware/counter-strike_..

2024-07-17 09:41

The reasoning is obviously the fact that the open qualifiers were filled with hacking teams. Then we had actual proper tier 2 teams losing to 1V9L9HAHAESPORTS with 5 randoms. So then the tier 2 players would go to twitter to complain about cheating teams, even if those randoms would have been legit, because noway the semipros would accept a defeat like that. Sadly, more often than not they were cheating. Not good look for the game anyhow.

2024-07-17 12:17

Finally valve is fixing something.

2024-07-17 08:59

boring..... tldr rather spend my time clicking heads!

2024-07-17 09:31

And click heads you shall!

2024-07-17 10:24

for Valve which teams are Tier 1 ,Tier 2,Tier 3? anyone know how actually they put teams on every tier ? Is 1-10 ranking Tier 1, 11-20 Tier 2 etc. or wat?

2024-07-17 10:16

The way I read it, a Tier 1 event must have invites extended to everyone starting from #1 Overall. Tier 2 event must have invites extended to everyone starting from #9 and below. A Tier 3 wasn't designated by them here so I'm curious if they do so in the future or if Tier 3 is Unranked territory at that point to try and facilitate grassroots events.

2024-07-17 10:25

There is no tier 3 (edit: in Valve's rulebook, I have to specify that). If a team is not in tier 1 then it is in tier 2. If you will gather four more and make a team you can be considered by Volvo a tier 2 player (team). You will have chances to participate in those "tier 2" tournament after getting through open qualifiers. And then, if you win or place well in enough of those tier 2 tournaments you will "promote" to tier 1 and play with the big boys in the best tournaments.

2024-07-17 11:04

So basically, everything below the Top 8 is grouped together as a sort of "Open" stage where anyone can enter. I do wonder how ESL with their Leagues will be scrutinized by this rulebook and whether ESEA leagues continue in the future and if they do, are they ranked? Feel like this may end up shaking that part up substantially.

2024-07-17 11:05

Why should event organisers care about valve "rules" anyway? How does valve take part in these events, pay or help to host them? Valve only made the game, which was already bought by each participating player, valve doesn't have the right to set other mandatory rules outside of it.

2024-07-17 10:50

10 replies

Because if they don't follow the rulebook, Valve can revoke their tournament operation license. It's their game, they have every right to do so. Valve is also only directly involved in hosting and outlining the major and it's rules.

2024-07-17 11:07

But they don't need a license to host events, they only need a license to host sanctioned events. If they don't infringe Valve's copyright they can do whatever they like.

2024-07-18 17:55

You literally answered your own questions. Valve made the game and do have the right to set 'other mandatory rules outside of it'

2024-07-17 11:28

Setting mandatory rules outside of direct gameplay process, including event formats and qualification / invite process doesn't make any sense to me.

2024-07-17 12:39

Why not? Imo it definitely does, and should be this way. (and it already is in like every other esport)

2024-07-17 12:53

Idk about other Esport, but for example UEFA saying English Premier League should have 10 relegated / promoted teams each year instead of 3 would be abuse of authority. Gameplay rules - ok, general rules (like no cheating, gambling, fixing etc) - ok, event format where valve directly involved as host or sponsor - ok, but no further.

2024-07-17 13:14

UEFA literally does this, though? Sure, they don't force you to relegate 10 teams, but they do force you to have a relegation system in place for example. I guess that's considered 'abuse of authority' as well?

2024-07-17 13:36

I understand, but it's imo Stupid law to be honest if i make a multiplayer game can i prohibit players from streaming it?

2024-07-20 16:35

That's completely unrelated and has nothing to do with what VALVE is doing.

2024-07-20 16:42

Don't follow the rules = no major and everyone wants the major

2024-07-17 11:51

I like the fact they are going the ATP route. IMO This will help increase the number of events contributing to the regional rankings and deter having too much "farm" events. Consistent placement on lower level events will allow to rise in rankings to access more prestigious ones. Combine with eliminating franchises, the future looks promising.

2024-07-17 10:53

Sounds good. Reading the comments in this section, it seems like a lot of people have misunderstood what was written. I recommend reading the article again with thought to clear any misunderstandings. I will be excited for the future of professional Counter Strike in 2025 and going forward. Regards

2024-07-17 13:52

care to explain how these changes are good when only the same teams will be able to play on tier 1/tier 2 tournaments? they already did this with majors, now the same applies to lower tier. if me and 4 friends want to go to a major, what do we do? literally impossible to join the competitive scene unless you're part of a tier1 team.

2024-07-17 19:49

With all due respect friend, I don't think the scene is ruined just because a random bunch of 5 players cannot fluke their way to the major, which didn't happen with the previous system either way. At most you would see more unknown tier 2 teams get there, which by the way, still have that chance. There will be many overlapping tournaments, and not every top team is going to be able to attend all of them. For tier 1 events, the minimum is that top 16 ranked teams are invited. For tier 2 events, even teams close to the top 30 will get direct invites. And there will still be open qualifiers for different tournaments, through which more unknown teams can make their name, the opportunities have not disappeared. You just have to prove your worth to make it to the majors now, which are the most prestigious tournaments in CS. I don't think it is fair to those who have grinded hard in tier 2 to get disregarded, their efforts will be rewarded with more tier 1 invites and potential major invites if they play a lot and well. The new scene will incentivize teams to play a lot. Regards

2024-07-17 19:55

No CCT Major? 🥺👉👈

2024-07-17 15:27

So is ESL Challenger League doomed under this new system? It's one of the few tournaments that NA has left, I would hate to see it disappear without a replacement.

2024-07-17 15:51

Seems great overall

2024-07-17 16:21

I agree. I think many think the reason for the max cap payout for those none big events kills the game. But it just means “more quality events” and using different entities to spread them out if one wanted to. Also prevents teams/players from skipping another event because prizing is better. Which I think could happen one day with some of these Saudi money. Or even protect players. Sorry India but a sketchy event that made teams drop out and one where an “alole verde” Indian company trying to scam sponsor money and leaving players stranded as a “org”. Prevents a fake event that to lure players from other events. Or just unlimited money starting their own caughSAUDIcaugh Sometimes regulation is healthy. Seem positive and protects the scene

2024-07-17 16:27

So does this mean #16 is the rank to get on Valve Rankings? So teams will basically be chasing after top 16 on the rankings to have a chance at staying afloat.

2024-07-17 20:54

2024-07-17 23:45

Bye bye CCT! Actually so based from valve. Want to host mickey mouse cups with fixer money behind it, get ready to have ESIC watching over you. SO BASED +1000

2024-07-18 17:46