The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was supposed to be a celebration of Counter-Strike, but even before the main stage began, the community’s focus shifted from the matches themselves to a more pressing issue: who would be allowed to broadcast them. The tournament organizer, BLAST, introduced strict broadcast restrictions that severely limited the rights of independent streamers — even legendary CS figures were affected.
Banned for everyone but the “big players”
According to BLAST’s official rules, all community coverage of the Major must be done exclusively through CSTV — Valve’s in-game viewing tool. Any restream of official content, custom HUDs, studio graphics, full-scale analytical segments, or sponsorship integrations are strictly forbidden.
In practice, this means that only selected “BLAST-approved” creators have access to quality production tools. Everyone else — even those with a long-standing legacy in the scene — is forced to use CSTV, which is often clunky, lags behind live action, and relies on a poor auto-director. Influential insider Aqua summed it up:
“Sad day for those who like to watch the Major with their communities. CSTV is the only option, and it doesn’t even belong to them. They banned custom HUDs too — it’s a disaster.”
“They only care about profit” — LOBANJICA lashes out
One of the most vocal critics is LOBANJICA, a veteran streamer who has long clashed publicly with BLAST. This time, he didn’t hold back:
“I told you two years ago — BLAST are scumbags. It was only a matter of time until they shut out all content creators, except for a few big ones they benefit from.”
His point is clear: BLAST isn’t interested in supporting the community or growing the scene. They want control — and profit. He also took a jab at Pimp, a former pro and current analyst associated with BLAST, implying his stance is biased:
“No wonder Pimp defends them. Give me a few more reasons to be positive — maybe BLAST will promote you.”
Get_RiGhT: even legends aren’t allowed
One of the most shocking moments came when Christopher “Get_RiGhT” Alesund, a true CS legend, was denied permission to stream the Major. His sarcastic tweet went viral:
“At least BLAST didn’t ruin my birthday yesterday, just today — by not letting me stream the Major.”
The quote became a symbol of the broader issue: even those who helped build the scene during the CS 1.6 days are now being locked out. For many viewers and ex-pros, it felt like being cast aside from the very thing they helped shape.
CSTV isn’t a solution — it’s part of the problem
BLAST didn’t just restrict official broadcasts. They imposed rigid technical conditions that nearly eliminate any creative freedom for streamers. These include:
- No replays, analysis, or custom overlays;
- No sponsorships or brand placements;
- No discussion of topics outside esports (e.g., politics, society, rights);
- No monetization of the stream — period.
These restrictions don’t just limit streamers — they reduce the quality of the viewing experience for fans. As one commentator put it:
“CSTV better not break — because we literally have no alternatives.”
Unequal rules, unequal opportunities?
Streamer Epidemic raised a fair question about the broader CS2 ecosystem:
“Why is there no standard for Valve-sanctioned events? Each organizer makes up their own rules. This is chaos.”
The lack of uniform access creates a dangerous precedent. Only the largest organizations with direct ties to BLAST or Valve benefit, while younger streamers, independent casters, and even veterans of the game are left out.
Not the first time — and probably not the last
The community was quick to recall similar controversies — most notably at the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, where organizers also tried to restrict community streams. Eventually, after intense backlash, they loosened the rules.
Aqua commented:
“StarLadder was even worse. They were taking down streams using the in-game feed.”
This gives hope that community pressure might again bring change. But for now, the situation continues to escalate — and not in BLAST’s favor. BLAST risks dismantling what took decades to build in Counter-Strike — a culture of openness, community support, and grassroots growth. Instead of making the Major an accessible celebration for everyone — from casual fans to esports icons — they’ve turned it into a gated arena, accessible only to those with a special “pass.”
This isn’t just an inconvenience for streamers — it’s a message: the value of community now comes second to control and monetization.
