Valve Confirms Counter-Strike 2 Major in Shanghai, First Ever in China

Valve has officially announced that the historic first Counter-Strike 2 Major to be hosted in China will take place in Shanghai in 2024, marking a major milestone for both the franchise and the region’s burgeoning esports scene. The announcement was made earlier today via Counter-Strike’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, sparking a wave of enthusiasm across the global CS2 community.

Set for December 2024, the Shanghai Major represents the first Major since Counter-Strike’s transition from Global Offensive to Counter-Strike 2—a game built on the Source 2 engine and launched late last year. While the game has already seen competitive events and regional tournaments, this will be the first Valve-sanctioned Major for CS2 held in Asia, let alone China, a country whose esports market has traditionally been dominated by games like League of Legends and Honor of Kings.

China’s selection as host signals Valve’s intent to grow Counter-Strike’s presence in new regions, particularly in Asia where tactical shooters have lagged behind other genres. By positioning the Shanghai Major as a tentpole event, Valve not only aims to galvanize local support but also provide a global stage that showcases just how international CS2 has become.

The tournament will feature the standard Major format, with qualifying stages including the Challengers and Legends phases, culminating in the Champions Stage. While the exact venue and prize pool details remain under wraps, early reports suggest Valve is partnering with local esports organizers who have experience with major international events, promising a world-class production.

This move couldn’t be more timely. With CS2 experiencing steady increases in player base and viewership—as seen in the record-breaking stats during this year’s BLAST.tv Paris Major transition event—placing a Major in China could unlock new talent pipelines and generate unprecedented levels of regional engagement.

While Valve has faced criticism in the past for limited regional representation in their Major selections, today’s announcement marks a turning point. CS2’s future might be global by design, but with China’s first-ever Major, it’s now officially global in execution.