Team Vitality’s Double Major Wins Fuels Counter-Strike 2’s Record Breaking 2025
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) achieved unprecedented viewership in 2025, driven by Team Vitality’s historic back to back Major victories and Valve’s revamped competitive ecosystem, according to Esports Charts’ year end report.
Viewership Milestones
The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 became the most watched CS2 tournament ever, amassing 76.11 million hours watched and peaking at 1.79 million concurrent viewers. The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 followed closely with 71.31 million hours watched and 1.59 million peak viewers. Seven CS2 events surpassed 1 million peak viewers, including the IEM Katowice 2025 grand finals (1.3 million) and the Intel Grand Slam at IEM Melbourne (1.24 million). Four CS2 teams Vitality, Team Spirit, MOUZ, and Team Falcons ranked among the global top 10 most watched esports organizations, with Vitality leading at fifth place with 90.3 million hours watched.
Vitality’s Dominant Season
Team Vitality’s stellar performance was central to CS2’s success. The French squad, led by Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and featuring star AWPer Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, secured nine S-tier titles, including:
- BLAST.tv Austin Major and StarLadder Budapest Major, making them the first team since 2019 to win two Majors in one year.
- IEM Katowice, IEM Melbourne (completing the ESL Grand Slam), ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Rivals, and IEM Dallas.
Vitality’s 30 match win streak from February to May 2025 was the second longest in CS history, only behind Ninjas in Pyjamas 60-0 run. ZywOo earned his seventh consecutive MVP award at Austin and tied “s1mple” with 21 career MVP honors at Katowice.
Valve’s Ecosystem Overhaul
Valve’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system revolutionized CS2’s competitive landscape. Replacing traditional RMR and Major legend status qualifications, VRS introduced performance based rankings, ensuring top teams consistently faced off at major events. The expanded 32 team Major format further deepened the field, fostering rivalries and clear storylines that engaged casual viewers. This predictability boosted organizer confidence and sustained viewership across multiple flagship events.
Broader Impact
The success extended beyond Vitality. Team Spirit (eighth, 79.2 million hours watched), MOUZ (ninth, 69.9 million hours watched), and Team Falcons (tenth, 68.7 million hours watched) capitalized on the vibrant ecosystem, with Falcons’ superteam featuring “NiKo” and “m0NESY” drawing significant attention. The Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh saw The MongolZ claim a historic CS2 title, marking Asia’s rise on the global stage.
Awards and Legacy
Vitality’s dominance earned them Best Esports Team at The Game Awards and Esports Awards 2025, while CS2 won Best Esports Game at The Game Awards. As Vitality heads into 2026 atop the HLTV rankings, their legacy as one of Counter-Strike’s greatest teams is secure, with potential to challenge Astralis all time record.
Since: October 29, 2025
