Overpass to Replace Anubis at IEM Cologne 2025

Organizers of one of the most anticipated Counter-Strike 2 events — IEM Cologne 2025 — announced a major piece of information: Overpass will officially be included in the active map pool, taking Anubis' place. The adjustment takes effect immediately and will be applied to the entire ESL Pro Tour system, from qualifiers to main events and playoff phases.

Notice from ESL

ESL shared the announcement on its official platforms, stating that the new map rotation comes into effect without a transition period. This means all upcoming ESL tournaments — with the sole exception being the ongoing ESL Pro League Season 22 qualifiers — will be played with the new map pool.

The only exception is the current EPL S22 qualifiers, which will continue using the old patch with Anubis in the map rotation. ESL explained this decision by citing the impracticality of changing rules mid-way through an ongoing qualification cycle.

The announcement took most pro teams off guard. With only 10 days remaining until IEM Cologne 2025 starts, the limited practice time could have a serious impact on teams being able to practice and plan accordingly over Overpass. Given the high level of competition at this event, this shift could pose serious challenges, especially for teams that previously relied on Anubis in their map pool.

For participants of FISSURE Playground 1, currently taking place in Serbia, the adaptation window is even shorter. These players will either need to quickly overhaul their approach or risk competing on the new map without sufficient preparation.

Overpass — one of the classic maps in the Counter-Strike series — has just returned to active duty, replacing Anubis in matchmaking and other competitive CS2 modes. Many analysts had already predicted that similar changes would soon be reflected in ESL tournaments, but the speed of implementation surprised even seasoned pros.

The shift may lead to unpredictable results in the early stages of tournaments, particularly for teams that had not been practicing Overpass. Nevertheless, most coaches have already confirmed that they are beginning accelerated training on the map.

Thus, IEM Cologne 2025 will become the first major ESL tournament to feature the return of Overpass at the top level of play — and this could reshape the entire CS2 pro scene.

CS2 Trade Protection Explained: Recover Stolen Skins After Account Hacking