The CS2 season just got hotter as BLAST Bounty Season 2 is officially locked in for August 5 to 17, 2025, and it is shaping up to be one of the most competitive tournaments of the year. With thirty-two teams entering the server for a slice of the massive $500,000 prize pool and those crucial VRS points, there’s everything to play for. However, one headline is stealing the spotlight ahead of the action even beginning. Team Falcons, the Saudi-based juggernaut and one of the top five teams in the Valve Regional Standings, has made the bold decision to reject their invite. In a move that’s stunned fans and analysts alike, Falcons will be sitting this one out while rivals like Team Spirit, Team Vitality, and MOUZ gear up to dominate the battlefield.
The tournament is split into two intense phases. The online portion begins right after IEM Cologne wraps up, while the grand finale takes place on LAN in Malta between August 14 and 17. What adds even more pressure is the fact that this event is the final major CS2 competition before the Esports World Cup kicks off on August 20. It is not just another tournament. It is the proving ground before the world stage, and skipping it could be a strategic gamble for any top-tier team.
Beyond the Falcons drama, a few more names opted out as well, including GamerLegion, Lynn Vision, and 3DMAX. Their absence makes room for other rising and consistent names across the global circuit to shine, including four wildcard entrants. The rest of the field reads like a who’s who of elite CS2 talent. Fan favorites like FaZe Clan, NAVI, G2, Liquid, Astralis, and Virtus.pro are all set to clash in a format designed to reward aggression and precision. BLAST has also overhauled the seeding and prize structure, adding more weight to every match and introducing new bounty-based incentives that encourage teams to go all-in on eliminating higher-ranked squads.
The Playoffs will take place in Malta and only the top eight teams will survive the chaos of the opening rounds to make it there. For those chasing Budapest Major qualification in November, the VRS points on offer at BLAST Bounty Season 2 are invaluable. This is where rankings will shift, legacies will be challenged, and the best will rise to the top or crumble under pressure.
With everything from meta-defining plays to rivalry rematches expected, this tournament could redefine the power structure of the CS2 scene before the final quarter of the year begins. And as always, BLAST’s production will bring the spectacle with the style it is known for, delivering both competitive thrills and crowd-pumping energy that makes each match feel like a final.
From August 5 to 17, the best teams in the world collide in a showdown that has already made headlines before it even begins. Now the question is, who claims the crown, and who regrets missing out?
For every update, backstage moment, and meme-worthy clutch, follow Gaming Moves on Instagram and Facebook. This season, we are bringing the fire before the first frag lands.
