Valve’s Sticker System Overhaul Is Costing CS2 Teams Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars

Valve’s decision to replace sticker capsules with direct sticker purchases at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 continues to spark criticism across the professional CS2 scene. According to HLTV, the new system has generated significantly less revenue for teams, leaving many organizations facing unexpected financial difficulties.

Many clubs built their budgets around the expected income from Major stickers under the previous system, but those expectations quickly fell apart after Valve introduced the new sales model. Sinners Esports co-founder Moritz Askadar Straube revealed that the organization had hoped qualifying for the Cologne Major would help offset financial losses, but the new sticker format failed to deliver the expected return.

The changes have also complicated existing player contracts. According to HLTV, the new 50/50 revenue split has created issues for agreements that were negotiated under the old sticker system. 100 Thieves representative Graham messioso Pitt warned that the changes could lead to disputes between organizations and players, with several teams forced to renegotiate contracts just before the Major began.

One month after the tournament concluded, sticker sales remain well below previous levels. One player who competed in the Opening Stage said his organization is currently earning only around $100 per day from sticker sales. Another team eliminated in Stage 1 reported earning approximately $60,000, compared to roughly $600,000 generated through sticker capsules at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, before revenue was shared with players.

"This is a disaster for the scene," one anonymous organization told HLTV.

CS2 Tournament Calendar H2 2026

Team representatives fear that the biggest impact will be felt by Tier 2 and Tier 3 organizations, many of which relied on Major sticker revenue as a crucial source of funding. Before the tournament, HLTV Editor-in-Chief Milan Striker Švejda warned that removing sticker capsules could create friction between teams and players. Aurora Gaming owner Valeriy L3rich Kharitonov also expressed concern, stating that smaller organizations would struggle the most under the new system.