ESL updates map pool ahead of ECL playoffs, igniting fury

Valve made the decision to finally move on from Overpass after spending ten years in the Active Duty pool and in the competitive scene. The map has had a historic run as one of the most intricate maps and the site of one notable controversy during a Major. Now, it has been replaced by Dust2 and teams are scrambling to re-learn the map as they transition to new events.

For the ESEA league system, ESL has decided that the upcoming playoffs will be using the new map pool with Overpass making way for Dust2. This decision was not well received as players are asking that ESEA either replace the map immediately or wait until next season. ESEA does have a history of changing the map pool mid-season as they did when Ancient was introduced during Season 37 in 2021.

M80 Analyst Bobby "stamina" Eitrem called the decision "odd" as teams were now expected to play Overpass for the remainder of the season, only to then not use any of that match history for the playoffs. "If playoffs include D2, it’s most important that the switch is made immediately to give time to prep it…"

It is important to note that ESL has made the decision that ESL Pro League Season 19 will finish out the event while using the previous map pool to ensure continuity within the LAN event as Groups A and B were well underway when the announcement came in.