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Counter-Strike 2’s latest community addition, Transit, has been removed from official matchmaking after sparking a wave of controversy involving a racial slur, crypto advertisements, and potential copyright violations. What started as an exciting new map quickly turned into one of the biggest embarrassments Valve has faced since CS2’s release.

The map, created by a team of four Russian and one Ukrainian developer, was added to the game on October 2 and pulled just two days later without warning. Initially, players noticed Transit had quietly disappeared from the rotation, leading to speculation online. Soon after, it’s confirmed that the map’s files included a racial slur hidden in its code, references to a real cryptocurrency project, and assets that might have breached copyright.

If you missed it, Valve had just refreshed the game earlier this month with new content and visual updates, introducing four new maps and a handful of gameplay tweaks in the CS2 October Update Adds Four New Maps, Fresh Cosmetics and Gameplay Tweaks. The addition of Transit was part of that same wave of community-driven content, which now makes its removal even more surprising.

The racial slur hidden in the code

According to reports, one of the map’s Easter eggs involved collecting missing-cat posters scattered around the environment. Completing the challenge triggered a hidden script named “N*a_cat”**, a reference buried in the map’s logic files that players could only see using console commands.

One of the map’s creators, Maxim “Rikuda”, later admitted responsibility, explaining that the name came from a meme he had used jokingly while developing the map. “It was a stupid mistake,” he said on Telegram. “I forgot to rename it before release. It wasn’t meant to offend anyone, but it’s still my fault.”

Rikuda also claimed Valve didn’t contact the developers before pulling Transit, unlike other map makers who were recently asked to remove QR codes from their creations.

Copyright concerns and meme references

Beyond the naming controversy, players pointed out that Transit contained questionable visual assets. Posters on the map featured a cat strongly resembling the main character from the hit indie game Stray, raising copyright concerns.

CS2 Transit map removed

Image Credit: Gabe Follower

Meanwhile, one building appeared to parody the lair of Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb, further muddying the waters.

Developer g3om, another member of the team, publicly distanced himself from the incident, telling CS2 UA that the project “included many inappropriate references” added by others. “Now I know for sure that you shouldn’t work with just anyone,” he said.

Hidden crypto promotion

The scandal deepened when screenshots showed a building in Transit displaying the logo of an actual cryptocurrency project. While some claimed it was a meme coin from the Russian community, others, including Ozzny, noted that the coin existed and had real value. “Safe to say this one won’t be coming back,” he posted on X.

Valve has not commented on the crypto link, but fans quickly speculated that promoting even a “joke” coin crossed a line, especially in an official map pool.

Community reaction

Players flooded social media with disbelief, memes, and disappointment. Some mocked the situation:

“Bro, it’s 2025. You’re telling me shady crypto projects, Ponzi schemes, and racial slurs aren’t okay? I thought this was America,” joked one user.

Others criticised Valve for a lack of oversight:

“This €16 billion company just uploads maps from the Workshop without checking them.”

Meanwhile, fans who enjoyed the map’s gameplay were simply frustrated. “Nooo, I had loads of fun playing this map,” one player wrote. “Just change the name and bring it back.”

A lesson for Valve and the community

Despite the chaos, Transit was well-received from a gameplay standpoint. Many praised its urban Vietnamese setting and the unique mechanic of a moving train that could kill players mid-round. But the controversy overshadowed all that.

The Transit incident highlights the risks of integrating community-made content too quickly. While Valve’s Workshop program helps new creators shine, this scandal shows the need for tighter review before maps are pushed to the official servers.

For now, Transit remains available in the Steam Workshop, but it’s unlikely to return to matchmaking anytime soon. What could’ve been a standout community success will instead be remembered as one of the most controversial moments in Counter-Strike history.