Valve has released the updated regional invite allocation for the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major, the second Counter-Strike 2 Major of 2025. These allocations, found in the latest update to the Major Supplemental Rulebook, reflect changes based on regional performances at the BLAST.tv Austin Major earlier this year.
As expected, the results from Austin have directly influenced how Valve has distributed slots across Europe, the Americas, and Asia for Stages 2 and 3, with Stage 1 slots still unconfirmed.
Valve has long tied regional slot allocation to recent international performance — a trend that continues here. Europe, typically the most dominant region, sees a minor reduction in Stage 3 invites, while the Americas gains an additional playoff spot, likely due to the impressive top-eight finishes from FURIA and paiN Gaming at the Austin Major.
In Stage 2, Europe and Asia each gain a slot, while the Americas loses two — a redistribution that seems to reward emerging depth in Asia and sustained results from Europe, while tempering expectations for North America outside of standout Brazilian squads.
The Stage 1 allocations — which determine the initial seeding pool — remain in flux, likely dependent on upcoming VRS updates and the final event list leading into the Major.
These adjustments reinforce Valve’s commitment to a merit-based regional system, where slot allocations are not static but instead react to recent Major performances.
