Summary
- Counter Strike 2 Premier Season 4 is launching on January 19, 2026 following the end of Season 3.
- Anubis finally returns to the Active Duty map pool after its six months hiatus to replace Train.
- To get Season 3 Premier Medal, players need 25 wins and an active CSR rating.
Valve is preparing to launch Premier Season 4 in Counter-Strike 2, as the conclusion of the current season approaches. This upcoming season will bring major changes to the Active Duty map pool by replacing Train with the favorite Anubis. It will definitely affect the strategies of players and esports teams alike in the upcoming season. Now, see everything about the CS2 Premier Season 4 here!
When Does CS2 Premier Season 4 Start?
CS2 Premier Season 4 is officially starting on January 19, 2026, putting an end to Season 3. Valve shared in their official social media channels that Season 3 will end on this date which will bring brief server downtime. This maintenance will take place across regions worldwide to give way to the new season.
The new season will significantly affect the professional Counter-Strike scene, especially the ongoing major tournaments. These changes will overlap with the BLAST Bounty that began on January 13 and IEM Kraków which is on January 28, 2026. Teams should manage to quickly adapt Anubis back into their practice routines and adjust their map veto strategies before the matches.
Premier Season 3 Medal Requirements
Players only have limited time to secure their Premier Season 3 medal before the new season arrives. It only has two specific requirements to qualify for the seasonal reward which are:
-
- Secure at least 25 wins during Season 3
- Maintain a visible Counter-Strike rating when the season ends
Also, the medal system will feature seven distinct tiers based on the CSR rankings. Here’s what the medals represent:
|
Medal |
CSR Rank |
|
Gray |
1,000 to 4,999 CSR |
|
Light Blue |
5,000 to 9,999 CSR |
|
Blue |
10,000 to 14,999 CSR |
|
Purple |
15,000 to 19,999 CSR |
|
Pink |
20,000 to 24,999 CSR |
|
Red |
25,000 to 29,999 CSR |
|
Yellow |
30,000 CSR or higher |
Without an active CSR rating at season’s end, players won’t receive their earned medal despite accumulating necessary win count. So, make sure you maintain a visible CSR ranking to earn Premier Season 3’s medal.
Complete Map Pool Changes for Season 4
What makes the upcoming season exciting for many is that it completely resuffles the Active Duty map pool. They removed Train in the new competitive rotation and relegated it to the Reserve map pool. Being in the reserve allows players to still access it through the Competitive tab.
Taking its place in Season 4 is the Anubis, which returns after removal back in mid-July during the start of the second 2025 competitive season. The full Premier Season 4 map pool will consists of seven maps such as:
-
- Ancient
- Anubis
- Dust II
- Inferno
- Mirage
- Nuke
- Overpass
This has surprised a portion of the CS community as they speculated Cache to return in the map pool. Many have been anticipating its inclusion since Valve acquired the remade version of it from its designer last year. On the other hand, Anubis first appeared in CS:GO during March 2020 alongside Chlorine. Then, it was launched exclusively in Scrimmage mode before it entered the Active Duty rotation.
Additional Expected Updates
Other than map pool changes and medal awards, Valve will also address ongoing technical issues in Counter-Strike 2. Many consistently reported various bugs since the game’s release and hope Season 4 will bring comprehensive fixes. Moreover, cheating remains a major concern within the community resulting in a call for stronger anti-cheat measures. Currently, there are no official announcements regarding these improvements.
Conclusion
Nothing much to unpack in the upcoming CS2 Premier Season 4 on January 19, 2026. Valve remains secretive of potential additions such as fixes to reported issues. Yet, many are looking forward to it as it brings back the favorite Anubis into the Active Duty rotation.
Writer’s Recommendations
Hi there, it’s Stal! If you loved that article, make sure to check out these other articles I’ve written just for you. See you there!
