ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has published updated co-streaming guidelines for the 2026 season, and the changes are significant. The new rules tighten what creators can and cannot do while broadcasting EFG events like the CS2 IEM circuit, with strict requirements around sponsor visibility, overlay sizes, and a controversial “Always-On” coverage mandate that prevents co-streamers from switching away from the official feed during live broadcasts.
With co-streaming becoming a bigger and bigger part of our events, today we’re updating our co-streaming guidelines for 2026 and beyond.
Check out the full guidelines on our website!https://t.co/ngCIJk91BJ pic.twitter.com/xVGxwerUYz
— ESL (@ESL) April 10, 2026
What The New Guidelines Actually Say
The core principle driving the 2026 rules is what EFG calls “Commercial Inheritance.” In simple terms, every sponsor integration baked into the official ESL broadcast, from in-game logo rotations and banners to lower thirds, break screens, and commercial ad segments, must remain fully visible and unaltered on any co-streamer’s feed. Co-streamers cannot hide, cover, or mute any of it.
On top of that, creators are barred from running their own commercial sponsors during ESL broadcasts without prior written approval. The restrictions go deep: overlays, webcam backgrounds, Twitch panels, chatbot messages, social media posts related to the event, and even voice shout-outs are all covered. EFG has also reserved a long list of sponsor categories exclusively for itself, including hardware (CPUs, GPUs, monitors, peripherals), beverages (energy drinks, soft drinks), gaming platforms, betting, crypto, and collectibles. Promoting anything in those categories during a co-stream is off-limits.
The “Always-On” Rule That Has Everyone Talking
The section generating the most community reaction is “Always-On Coverage.” Under the new guidelines, co-streamers must maintain a continuous, uninterrupted broadcast once they go live. Switching away to other streams, gameplay, or “Just Chatting” segments while the ESL tournament is running is explicitly prohibited. During live gameplay, ESL’s audio must remain audible and the co-streamer’s webcam is capped at roughly 5% of total screen space. During interstitial segments like analyst desks, walkouts, and interviews, ESL audio must still be audible, and overlay elements can take up a maximum of 33% of the screen.
The only windows where co-streamers get full creative freedom are pre-show (before the countdown clock hits zero) and post-show (after the trophy ceremony and legal lines). During those periods, creators can do full-screen takeovers with their own audio.
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The 5% Webcam Rule And Overlay Restrictions
EFG has laid out precise spatial requirements for what co-streamers can display on screen. The webcam overlay must occupy 5% or less of the total screen during gameplay and interstitials, and it has to be positioned so it doesn’t cover in-game HUDs or sponsor placements. Chat feeds must be transparent and take up less than 3% of screen space. Social handles are limited to under 2%. No additional commercial overlays of any kind are permitted during the full broadcast.
Platform Lock, Data Sharing, And Likeness Rights
Co-streams are permitted exclusively on Twitch. Any other platform, whether that’s YouTube, TikTok, or Facebook, requires express written exemption from EFG. Creators approved for YouTube must also be whitelisted for copyright purposes before going live, and EFG takes no responsibility for DMCA claims that arise outside the approval process.
Beyond platform restrictions, co-streamers must share all viewership data with EFG upon request after each event. They also grant EFG a perpetual, royalty-free licence to use their likeness, voice, and broadcast excerpts for marketing and promotional purposes. Any guests or co-hosts appearing for a significant portion of the broadcast need advance approval via email.
Community Reaction Is Split
The CS2 community response has been mixed. A significant portion of the Reddit discussion around the announcement focused on the practical implications of the Always-On rule, particularly for creators like fl0m and ohnePixel who are known for filling time between maps with their own content, whether that’s GeoGuessr, case openings, or casual chat with viewers.
Some fans flagged that the wording initially seemed to require co-streamers to broadcast the entire show day from start to finish, which would be impractical for creators in different time zones. An ESL staff member responded directly on Reddit to clarify that this is not the case. The rule is about maintaining an uninterrupted experience during the co-streamer’s own broadcast, not forcing them to be live for every minute of a show day.
Others pointed out the elephant in the room: the Always-On rule is fundamentally about ad delivery. When co-streamers switch away from the official feed during breaks, those viewers effectively vanish from ESL’s sponsor metrics. As one commenter put it, ESL cannot count a co-streamer’s audience as their own if that audience is watching someone play GeoGuessr instead of the analyst desk and its accompanying sponsor segments.
There is also concern about what this means for co-streamers who have existing relationships with gambling-adjacent sponsors. The guidelines explicitly prohibit betting and skin gambling promotion, which could create contractual conflicts for creators who are already partnered with those kinds of brands.
Why EFG Is Tightening The Rules Now
EFG framed the guidelines as a shared responsibility model. The opening of the document explicitly states that brand partners are what fund the prize pools, arena experiences, and production quality that the community expects. From EFG’s perspective, co-streamers are “parallel distribution hubs,” and if those hubs are not delivering the full sponsor package, the commercial model that sustains CS2 esports starts to break down.
Whether the community sees this as a reasonable trade-off or a step too far will likely depend on how strictly EFG enforces the rules in practice, and whether the co-streamers who draw tens of thousands of viewers decide the conditions are worth it. EFG retains the right to terminate access and revoke broadcasting rights in real time for any violation, so the leverage sits firmly on the tournament organiser’s side.