Valve Sacrifices Iconic Dust II AWP Spot For The Sake Of Balance

Landing that sweet, sweet AWP shot (or dying from it) five seconds into your Dust II match is no more: Valve has altered the iconic Counter-Strike map by obstructing the direct sightline from the Terrorist spawn to the spot where Counter-Terrorists cross the map. But as the memes show, many players would rather die jumping than live kneeling in the Dust II nanny state.

On September 22nd, Valve released Operation Riptide, a major update to its popular multiplayer tactical shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Apart from new loot boxes, mission types and private queues, a major change to Dust II was introduced. To the elation of many and the horror of many others, Valve decided to remove the direct sightline from the T spawn down the middle of the map.

We're adding new maps during the Operation and updating Ancient and Dust2. Here's a sneak peek at Dust2 changes: pic.twitter.com/2nCfoFktYi

— CS:GO (@CSGO) September 22, 2021

The change was met with reactions from both CSGO athletes and common players, and memes lamenting (or celebrating) the change have been pouring in from the community.

RIP DUST2 pic.twitter.com/OeTQH8mq4a

— J. Michel D'Oliveira (@mch_AGG) September 22, 2021

Game: CSGO
By: Valve pic.twitter.com/OmX8ihNl1S

— Source Engine Aesthetics (@sourcepics) September 23, 2021

Valve balancing Long A pic.twitter.com/gDvNFgx50C

— David Szymanski (@DUSKdev) September 23, 2021

wtf

— Sasha (@s1mpleO) September 22, 2021

While the update alters the design that successfully existed for many years, it's actually not new. The very first iteration of the map back when Dust II was released in 2001 did not have a direct sightline either.

CS:GO's new Dust2 suicide is just OG Dust2's but took to the extreme in the end. pic.twitter.com/TS1cZ13Lvc

— ZooL (@ZooL_Smith) September 22, 2021

Those who don’t learn form their past are doomed to repeat it pic.twitter.com/O8Ql5rrpIQ

— (Not) YouTube Kids (@RealYouTubeKids) September 23, 2021

This marks the second time Valve introduces major changes to Dust II since its addition to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Now, would you take another look at that glorious staircase.