- Official Post
Mapcore is now holding a Counter-Strike 2 Mapping Contest for Custom Gamemode maps!
Entry
Create a "Work In Progress" post in the Mapcore Discord Server "custom-gamemodes-entries" contest forum channel!
When you're ready, update your WIP thread's first message with a link to your playable map's Steam Workshop page.
Your thread + playable map constitutes your entry to this contest!
Format
Our contest will consist of two stages, each designed to showcase the best of mapping talent from around the world:
Stage 1 - The MVP stage
During this stage, creativity should run wild, in an attempt to see what works and what doesn't. However, by the end of this stage, all entries should be functional and showcase a vertical slice of your vision. You must deliver a minimum-viable-product.
Duration: 3 months submissions deadline, your playable map must be entered by the 25th of October 2026, at 11:59 PM CEST.
Announcement Date for the maps proceeding to stage 2: 8th of November 2026
Judging criteria (100 points, subset of main judging criteria):
- Functionality: 50 points
- The submission has to load and be playable without the use of custom server plugins.
- Originality: 50 points
- How unique this gamemode is.
Stage 2 - The Final Stage
In the final stage, the chosen maps from Stage 1 get finalised, detailed and polished. Community feedback is vital during this stage.
Duration: 3 months
The top 4 entries and Grand Prize Winner will be declared on the 15th of February 2026 to claim their place in the spotlight. These maps will be showcased on DIMA's CS2 Community Servers
Judging Criteria (100 points)
- Functionality: 20 points
- The submission has to load and be playable without the use of custom server plugins.
- Fun Factor: 20 points
- How entertaining and enjoyable the gamemode is.
- Originality: 20 points
- How unique this gamemode is.
- Intuitivity: 20 points
- How easy it is for the players to understand and pick up the rules of the gamemode.
- Overall Polish: 10 points
- General Visual/Gameplay appearance and attention to detail.
- Visual Presentation: 10 points
- Artistic presentation and visual coherence.
Judging
A combination of veteran experienced Mapcore members and pillars of the Counter-Strike community will ensure judging is fair and comprehensive!
Judges:
Angel - Creator of Dogtown and the CS2 Prophunt maps along many other projects (Source2 Viewer contributor, Source2 Wiki, RadGen), active moderator on the Mapcore discord server.
TheWarOwl - A staple of the CS community since the early CS:GO days, helping countless new players learn the game and creating entertaining content with his Custom Gamemodes video series.
Vaya - Creator of Apollo and Brewery and long standing pillar of the Mapcore Community.
Dima - Popular CS2 content creators and Twitch streamer, running large scale community events on custom commissioned community maps.
Orel - Long standing community member since the CS:GO days, creator of Convars.com and maps like Drawbridge, Fachwerk and the custom ROGUE gamemode.
Prizes
Top 4 Contest Maps receive:
- A Monetary Prizepool of $2.400 + ~$400 CS2 "AUG | Midnight Lily, factory new" skin
- 1st place: $1200 + skin
- 2nd place: $600
- 3rd place: $400
- 4th place: $200
- Mapcore Merch!
- A Spotlight on Mapcore (linking to each work in progress thread)
- Eternal Bragging Rights
Rules
- Entry into this Contest is free of charge for all.
- Entries have to be submitted to the Mapcore discord "custom-gamemodes-entries" contest forum channel.
- AI usage is disallowed for visual aspects at any point.
- AI assisted code is allowed, but you must clearly state its usage. https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/414…463747997849618
- Submissions require a complete explanation of the gamemode. Win conditions should be included in an easy to understand way. Everything should be included in text form on the Mapcore Forum post for the contest entry.
- You must include credits for copyrighted works, illegal use of copyrighted works will result in disqualification, all assets must also comply with Steam Workshop guidelines.
- Your entry must be a playable map for the PC version of Counter-Strike 2.
- Entries can be disqualified due to obvious plagiarism.
- No explicitly named sequels to an existing Valve gamemode.
- Entries that were under creation prior to the announcement of this Contest can be entered, except for any gamemode which was released for public download on the Steam Workshop.
- Entries must be submitted to the CS2 Steam Workshop AND our Mapcore Contest sub-forum before the deadline.
- By submitting content in the forum you agree with any of the content and map-material being used for promotional purposes.
- Gamemode authors are free to share their gamemode on any other websites or services they wish, however the gamemode must remain free to download.
- Teams are permitted, multiple entries per participant are permitted, however each entry will be judged for its own particular quality.
- Entrants will have to agree how to split any prizes awarded prior to prize claim and dispatch. Prize payments will be made to one (1) designated individual per project.
- Mapcore encourages entrants NOT to update their Workshop map after the deadline(s). Entries will not be disqualified if updated, but entrants assume the risk of introducing bugs/glitches into their work. Judges will not be asked to overlook such bugs/glitches, so we recommend "finalizing" a polished version of your project before the deadline in order to “put your best foot forward”.
- During judging workshop ID is not allowed to change.
- Mapcore forum rules must be obeyed.
- All custom textures, models, etc. must be embedded into the map's VPK file.
- Map authors must ensure they are able to accept payment via bank transfer from EU based countries. Winners of hardware or physical products will be required to provide a valid shipping address.
- In the event of a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest during the judging phase, said judge(s) will recuse themselves from the judgment of any relevant entry and a replacement judge will be selected from our group of Guest Experts, or an outside qualified judge will be selected if necessary.
- If any finalist entry is disqualified due to violation of one of these rules, all applicable winnings will be directed to the next highest-rated map.
- Void where prohibited.
Eligibility
- Participant eligibility: This Contest is open to any individual, or teams of individuals, provided they comply with the following:
- Participants must not be an Official Staff Member or Employee of the “Organizer” (Mapcore).
- Participants must not have taken part in the judging, or official announcement of this Contest.
- Legal Age: This Contest is open to any individuals who meet the above “participant eligibility” criteria. In the event that a participant who has not reached the legal age in his/her state wins one or more prizes, he/she must provide contact details for the legal guardian who will claim the prize(s).
THANK YOU to our AMAZING COMMUNITY!