Valve’s Double Standards and Premier Season One Medal Problem

[Pyconcux]

---

Dear Valve Corporation and the Counter-Strike 2 development team,

For many of us, it came as a complete surprise that commemorative medals would be awarded for playing in the first season of the Premier mode. I, who had previously ignored all competitive modes in this game, felt inspired and decided to try Premier for the first time, aiming to be among the players who experienced the first season. Yes, it was in the final week, but better late than never.

Many of us didn’t have enough time to meet the condition you announced a few days ago: to complete the Premier calibration by winning ten matches in this mode. Since I don’t play Counter-Strike 2 often, I had to spend several hours just to unlock Premier mode, as it only becomes available upon reaching profile level 10. At the time of your announcement, I was only at level 9.

I’m certain I would have had enough time to complete all the requirements for the medal if you had clearly communicated the end date of the first season. Unfortunately, the information in your announcement was too vague and misled many of us. This is quite frustrating, as I worked hard and won seven out of the ten required matches, planning to win the remaining three this evening. And I’m not the only one in this situation.

---

I’m writing this post because I know you listen to the community and are willing to accommodate players. A recent example is how you extended the Crownfall event in Dota 2, moving the end date from mid-January to early February. In the announcement, you wrote:

Originally posted by Valve:

Back in December, it seemed entirely reasonable to bring Crownfall to a close halfway through January. After all, we reasoned, who could possibly need more time than that to finish exploring four huge overworld maps filled with tons of characters to meet, comics to read, and minigames to conquer?

Well, if what we're hearing from friends, family, dedicated fans, coworkers, bus drivers, security guards, and even some cats on the internet is true, it turns out a lot of people could actually use more time to finish everything. So we're extending Crownfall's end date one last time (for real this time) to Thursday, February 6. If you've still got progress to make, get moving, because the curtains for this show are finally actually about to, we promise, close.

---

I would like you to be consistent in your actions, regardless of which of your games is involved. As you can see, the situation in Dota 2 is similar to what we’re experiencing now in Counter-Strike 2. However, the end date for Crownfall was known deep well in advance, and it was extended more than once.

It would be fair if you adjusted the conditions for awarding the Premier mode medal for the first season and granted it to everyone who played at least one match in this mode. I’m confident this is technically feasible and wouldn’t be too difficult to implement. Moreover, it would only improve your reputation, which is currently a bit shaky.

Please, prove with actions that you listen to the community when it asks, and not just when it’s convenient for you.

Thanks in advance,
Pyconcux

---

UPD:

As it turns out, not only did scoundrels like me, who were after free digital rewards, fail to receive the medal, but also those who actively played for 16 months but stopped recently for some reason.

Originally posted by https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198100029564:

And just in time, my Premier rating disappeared—it was around 20k+. It’s a bummer if an active rating is required for the medal and Valve decides to screw us over.

Originally posted by https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561199275091313:

пацанва подскажите пожалуйста, я в премьер давненько не заходил, но 50 побед есть, медальку получу???

Originally posted by https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198889124159:

i had around 5k rating on premier like a year ago. but "magically' it got removed? and 2 days ago i got to know that they will be handing out medals to player ratings. I checked my premier and my rank was gone? i tried my best to get 10 wins in 2 days but i only got 6 wins and kept losing to hackers or unfair matchmaking. i just want to know if i have a chance on getting the medal because in the past i had a rating.

As you can see, their results were forgotten and reset, so the rotten argument from commenters about I had a year can safely be ignored.

---

Anyway, the problem isn’t the medal itself, but Valve’s hypocritical attitude. As I mentioned earlier, the Crownfall event in Dota 2 was postponed multiple times under the guise of caring about players. But if you dig a little deeper, it becomes clear: all these delays weren’t made to please players, but to delay the update’s release and make even more money off in-game Crownfall items.

In the case of Counter-Strike 2, the situation is as follows: the "update" is ready and needs to be released as soon as possible to attract the game’s Chinese audience, who are currently celebrating the Chinese New Year. Convenient, right? They’ll have days off, which they’ll likely spend playing the game (since the update just dropped), and in the excitement of the second Premier season, they’ll open a few cases and capsules.

That’s why I put "Valve’s Double Standards" first in the discussion title. The medal issue is secondary here and is a consequence of Valve’s consumerist attitude toward players. The main problem is Valve’s hypocrisy.

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Unfortunately, only a few grasped this subtext, while others gloated, shouting at me and others, "You had a year." I’m doing fine without the medal, but someone out there probably had a FOMO attack, and that person is really struggling right now. Please, don’t gloat over those who are suffering — show some compassion or just stay silent.

Originally posted by https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198878844067:

You are not alone, everyone is. Nearly 1 million players were playing the game last night.
Everyone wants to get the historic official ranking badge.

[76561199592687968]

Originally posted by Pyconcux:

Dear Valve Corporation and the Counter-Strike 2 development team,

Didn't even read further.
They doesn't check community forums.

[Shakespeare]

Well said. I agree and was disappointed too.

[Pod]

Yeah my buddy who has 6k hours in game but only plays comp tried doing premier for the medal but only got to 6 wins. We thought the day cooldown would be tomorrow.

[DEATHMETAL]

Originally posted by Pyconcux:

I would like you to be consistent in your actions, regardless of which of your games is involved. As you can see, the situation in Dota 2 is similar to what we’re experiencing now in Counter-Strike 2. However, the end date for Crownfall was known deep well in advance, and it was extended more than once.

you had about 2 years to play premier season one, its your fault for not getting the rank and the 10 wins.

[Pod]

To be fair, they could have given a date/time for the shut down instead of leaving it so vague.

[WhyAlwaysMe]

"I’m writing this post because I know you listen to the community and are willing to accommodate players."

HAHHAHAHA

[76561199592687968]

Originally posted by Pod:

To be fair, they could have given a date/time for the shut down instead of leaving it so vague.

You had emore than nough time to play this gamemode. Just like everyone else.

[Pod]

Originally posted by Defiler:

Originally posted by Pod:

To be fair, they could have given a date/time for the shut down instead of leaving it so vague.

You had emore than nough time to play this gamemode. Just like everyone else.

I got mine I'm fine. But to be fair, they could have given a date/time for the shut down instead of leaving it so vague.

[Razor_Fork]

8/10 wins, RIP (I was doing good but then hit 6 loss streak)
I started sunday and would manage my weekend differently if I knew exact time.
Today I was welcomed with matchmaking disabled, thanks Valve, I wasted two days for nothing.

It was 2 years for a season, lol, now it will be 6 months, AND you need 25 win, cringe

[♛⁧Schultheiß]

So, you didn't play premier in season 1. And you aren't receiving the premier season 1 badge.
What's the "problem"?

[Razor_Fork]

Originally posted by ♛⁧Schultheiß:

So, you didn't play premier in season 1. And you aren't receiving the premier season 1 badge.
What's the "problem"?

yeah what you don't understand, we played just before the end of it

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Pyconcux:

Valve’s Double Standards and Premier Season One Medal Problem

---

Dear Valve Corporation and the Counter-Strike 2 development team,

For many of us, it came as a complete surprise that commemorative medals would be awarded for playing in the first season of the Premier mode. I, who had previously ignored all competitive modes in this game, felt inspired and decided to try Premier for the first time, aiming to be among the players who experienced the first season. Yes, it was in the final week, but better late than never.

Many of us didn’t have enough time to meet the condition you announced a few days ago: to complete the Premier calibration by winning ten matches in this mode. Since I don’t play Counter-Strike 2 often, I had to spend several hours just to unlock Premier mode, as it only becomes available upon reaching profile level 10. At the time of your announcement, I was only at level 9.

I’m certain I would have had enough time to complete all the requirements for the medal if you had clearly communicated the end date of the first season. Unfortunately, the information in your announcement was too vague and misled many of us. This is quite frustrating, as I worked hard and won seven out of the ten required matches, planning to win the remaining three this evening. And I’m not the only one in this situation.

---

I’m writing this post because I know you listen to the community and are willing to accommodate players. A recent example is how you extended the Crownfall event in Dota 2, moving the end date from mid-January to early February. In the announcement, you wrote:

Originally posted by Valve:

Back in December, it seemed entirely reasonable to bring Crownfall to a close halfway through January. After all, we reasoned, who could possibly need more time than that to finish exploring four huge overworld maps filled with tons of characters to meet, comics to read, and minigames to conquer?

Well, if what we're hearing from friends, family, dedicated fans, coworkers, bus drivers, security guards, and even some cats on the internet is true, it turns out a lot of people could actually use more time to finish everything. So we're extending Crownfall's end date one last time (for real this time) to Thursday, February 6. If you've still got progress to make, get moving, because the curtains for this show are finally actually about to, we promise, close.

---

I would like you to be consistent in your actions, regardless of which of your games is involved. As you can see, the situation in Dota 2 is similar to what we’re experiencing now in Counter-Strike 2. However, the end date for Crownfall was known deep well in advance, and it was extended more than once.

It would be fair if you adjusted the conditions for awarding the Premier mode medal for the first season and granted it to everyone who played at least one match in this mode. I’m confident this is technically feasible and wouldn’t be too difficult to implement. Moreover, it would only improve your reputation, which is currently a bit shaky.

Please, prove with actions that you listen to the community when it asks, and not just when it’s convenient for you.

Thanks in advance,
Pyconcux

Season 1 began when CS2 officially launched in September 27, 2023 and ended on January 27, 2025.

You and everyone else had 1 year 4 months to the date to get 10 wins and a rating.

There is no excuse you can make for not playing enough of the game in 16 months.

[Razor_Fork]

Yes, you can make any excuse, family stuff, health, work abroad, etc, but there is no excuse for not having end date all the time and just announcing the thing 3 days before the end and still not giving actual date. I don't give a f for many things but our time should be respected, it's a standard today to give info like this.

[Pod]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Season 1 began when CS2 officially launched in September 27, 2023 and ended on January 27, 2025.

You and everyone else had 1 year 4 months to the date to get 10 wins and a rating.

There is no excuse you can make for not playing enough of the game in 16 months.

:nkCool:

To be fair, they were very vague with the end date/time

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Pod:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Season 1 began when CS2 officially launched in September 27, 2023 and ended on January 27, 2025.

You and everyone else had 1 year 4 months to the date to get 10 wins and a rating.

There is no excuse you can make for not playing enough of the game in 16 months.

To be fair, they were very vague with the end date/time

For 16 months, they said nothing. You're telling me that for all of 2024, people didn't win 10 matches?