Podcasts about cs2

karrigan's HLTV interview has Falcons fans asking questions before the IEM Cologne Major even begins. Thorin, Mauisnake, and STYKO break it all down in Counter-Strike.   Raycon — Upgrade your listen with Raycon's Open Earbuds or Everyday Classics. Go to https://buyraycon.com/snakeopen to get 15% off your order.   Polymarket — Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Crissy and Charlie discuss some hot topics in AI, starting with a question on everyone's mind: does using AI mean fewer employees, or more?Next, they tackle two debates happening in the GTM space. First up: Do you still need Clay if you have Claude Code? Then they make the case against sending "scored-up" MQLs (except hand-raisers) to sales based on analysis CS2 has done for all of their clients over the years, and what they would do instead. This week: 00:00 Intro: We're back to In-Person Events! 01:52 Can AI Really do More with Less Time? 11:18 Clay v. Claude Code 27:05 Replace Scoring with Signals? Hear more from us: Subscribe to us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-x5u0G03LWmU0Ds_4zR8w Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://www.cs2marketing.com/revenue-growth-architects#subscribe-to-newsletter Follow Crissy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crveteresaunders/ Follow Charlie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliesaunders/

Is it possible for a $70 blockbuster to feel like it was actually designed for people with jobs and families? This week, we review Capcom's Pragmata and discuss why its bite-sized mission structure and emotional "Dad Hook" make it a gold standard for time-value in 2026. Then, we dive into the surreal world of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. We talk about why this "digital ant farm" is the ultimate zero-stress management sim and how its new inclusivity updates have modernized a cult classic.  We also take a look at Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a game that was once a technical struggle but has found a second, silky-smooth life as a Switch 2 powerhouse that finally fills in the missing pieces of Zelda lore. Finally, we set the stage for the BLAST Rivals tournament at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Whether you're a Counter-Strike veteran or a casual spectator, we break down why CS2 remains the tactical king of esports and what we're looking for as the world's best teams descend on Texas. Show Notes: 0:53 - Housekeeping 1:52 - Pragmata Review: A High-Budget Game That Respects Your Time 33:28 - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Review – Nintendo's Weirdest Game is Back 1:03:03 - The Imprisoning War Explained: Why Age of Imprisonment is Essential Zelda Lore 1:26:36 - Inside BLAST Rivals Fort Worth: The $1,000,000 Battle at Dickies Arena 1:57:53 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Jack and Steven are back to talk about Modern Warfare Ding Dong, CS2 finally releasing a new map, Jack's one year of car ownership, Dunkin releasing an unlimited drink subscription (allegedly), the top 5 most understood English words globally, and of course, the announcement of the new CEO of Apple. Steve did his job, Tim might've cooked, will John Ternus around?

Hot take: not every AI use case needs an autonomous agent. This week, Charlie and Crissy are unpacking Salesforce's new "headless" CRM. Then, they walk through CS2's AI Maturity Framework, grounding it in a real-world account research example. Our biggest takeaway? Stop thinking about AI maturity at the company level and go use case by use case. The most complex solution isn't always the right answer. This week: 00:00 Intro 00:43 Salesforce's "Headless" CRM 15:30 AI Maturity Framework & Account Research Example 38:01 How to Decide Which Maturity Level to Use Hear more from us: Subscribe to us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-x5u0G03LWmU0Ds_4zR8w Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://www.cs2marketing.com/revenue-growth-architects#subscribe-to-newsletter Follow Crissy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crveteresaunders/ Follow Charlie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliesaunders/

HLTV's Striker joins to break down the ZywOo fandom war, kyxsan's career limbo, and FaZe's IGL crisis in a new Snake & Banter!   Raycon — 20% off the Essential Open Earbuds. Go to https://buyraycon.com/snakeopen   PrizePicks — Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!   Polymarket — Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In earth shattering news, Xbox announces a price decrease for GamePass, Elsewhere Ubisoft finally admits the Black Flag remake is real, and Shuhei Yoshida says he was fired from Sony. Plus Top Gun 3 was announced at Cinemacon, and Marvel Studios returns to Hall H this summer. That and more on this weeks episode.

We break down the kariggan to Falcons bombshell, and why FaZe's PR response made everything worse.   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin, Mauisnake, and guest voo debate whether karrigan should retire from Counter-Strike — and who could actually save him.   Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!   Celebrate the moms in your life! Go to https://buyraycon.com/snake to get 15% off the Everyday Earbuds Classic.   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Mauisnake are joined by CS2 stats analyst LuzRaposa to put zonic, FaZe Clan, and Team Falcons on blast.   Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are perfect for refreshing your routine this spring! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to get 20% off.   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Intro 0:00• AyaNeo Says Windows Handhelds Are Too Expensive to Make 3:56• Nintendo Scales Back Switch 2 Production 19:06• Backlog 30:40• Epic Lays Off Over 1,000 Employees 39:36• Resident Evil Requiem Devs Surprised by DLSS 5 Reveal 48:35• NVIDIA CEO Criticizes “AI Slop” 53:26• Microsoft Updates Quick Resume 58:05• Sony Updates PS3 System Software 1:02:10• Xbox May Lower Game Pass Pricing 1:04:25• Valve Changes Reload Mechanics in CS2 1:08:11• Sony Dropping PlayStation Network Branding 1:13:10• Valve Previews SteamOS 3.8 1:15:10• EU May Force Replaceable Batteries in Switch 2 1:10:49• Ubisoft Ends Development at Red Storm 1:27:15• IO Interactive Ends Partnership with Build A Rocket Boy 1:32:00• TWEET OF THE WEEK 1:33:50• Q&A 1:37:05✴️ PATREON https://www.patreon.com/cw/WULFFDENPodcastOriginally streamed on March 24, 2026

Ist Cities: Skylines 2 endlich auf dem Weg der Besserung? Nach dem Schock-Aus von Colossal Order haben nun die Iceflake Studios das Ruder übernommen – und sie fackeln nicht lange! Micha und Lea schauen sich an, wie sich der neue Entwickler schlägt. Alle Links zum GameStar Podcast und unseren Werbepartnern: https://linktr.ee/gamestarpodcast

Thorin and Mauisnake are joined by RobuJohnson to discuss if magixx should be the IGL on Team Spirit while donk is in his prime, FalleN's recent level of play for FURIA, upcoming BLAST Rotterdam matches, ZywOo's dominant year, Reddit's thoughts on kyousuke, and more!   Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!   Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are perfect for refreshing your routine this spring. Go to https://buyraycon.com/snakeOPEN to get 20% off.   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's episode is about rewiring old habits, finishing what I start, and examining why discomfort is the way. Also, while asleep and dreaming I created a scene in OBS and I've never seen any tutorials or anything about how to do it...I just woke up and did it. Wild right? In this video I talk about: → Why I'm pushing through a WoW Let's Play I don't even want to finish anymore → The difference between playing for fun vs. playing for growth → Life as the "main quest" — and gaming as the auxiliary → What games I actually want to make videos about next (CS2, Fallout, WoW Midnight, and more) → That dream where I manifested OBS knowledge out of thin air This channel is about what happens inside the mind's eye and today that means sitting at level 47 in the Hinterlands at 5am in the morning asking yourself why.

Jack and Steven—despite Discord not working—still managed to get this episode out for you guys by speaking over the phone and discussing some very important topics like: the recent CS2 update, the new MacBook Neo, why Pirates wear eye patches, the Oscars, most Social Media platform names being 2 syllables, YouTuber merch, Sushi, Pencils, Jack's car being messed up, and making $1 million but having to serve 1 year in prison. Yeah ok, this one had a lot of weird shit.

Team Liquid switching VRS regions in Counter-Strike is ugly! Former 3DMAX Coach YouKnow joins Thorin and Mauisnake to discuss the ammo update in CS2, BLAST Open Rotterdam predictions, roster moves at Team Liquid and G2, NAVI's potential to compete with Vitality, XANTARES, and more!   Head to https://factormeals.com/snake50off and use code snake50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year!   Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are perfect for refreshing your routine this spring. Go to https://buyraycon.com/snakeOPEN to get 20% off.   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Counter-Strike esports interviews are BORING, NiP's struggles, and more CS industry trends are featured in today's Snake and Banter! Index joins Thorin and Mauisnake to discuss the decline of real personality in pro interviews, why fans miss the classic era of outspoken stars, and how current teams like NiP, Spirit, Vitality, and FURIA are navigating roster changes, pressure, and expectations.     Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ZywOo fans vs Launders in the CS GOAT debate, MOUZ struggles, PARIVISION's rise, The MongolZ, and the ongoing donk vs ZywOo story headline this episode as we break down the state of CS2 and how old narratives are fading among today's fans. We also touch on molodoy, 3DMAX, whether karrigan will retire by June 30th, and why the 2026 player‑ranking race may mirror last year's chaos.   Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code CS2 at https://shopmando.com   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Team Falcons need to make some changes! Thorin and Mauisnake are joined by KingT to discuss the state of Team Falcons and why zonic needs to go, the reasons why this G2 roster has failed, thoughts on Spinx and MOUZ, the state of NAVI following their run at PGL Cluj-Napoca, and more!   Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!   Head to https://factormeals.com/snake50off and use code snake50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year.   Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can the CS2 map pool be fixed? DAVEY joins Thorin and Mauisnake to discuss PGL Cluj-Napoca, the community's perception of m0NESY, ZywOo's hard-carry performance at IEM Krakow, thoughts on FaZe and Spirit, why Senzu and try are fantastic pickups for Passion UA, and more! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code CS2 at https://shopmando.com Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are here to help you go for gold! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to get 15% off. Livetrade on CS2 today on Polymarket: https://polymarket.com/?via=lastfreenation-eeux Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's Team Falcons vs the world! Dive into a full Ugly / Good / Bad Points breakdown of the Counter-Strike 2 scene, as Thorin, Pimp, and Mauisnake each bring their strongest — and most controversial — takes to the table. This episode delivers structured debate, hard criticism, and forward-looking analysis on where CS2 is thriving, stagnating, or actively hurting itself. Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are here to help you go for gold! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to get 15% off. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What is holding Astralis back in CS2? Mauisnake, Thorin, and guest TeaTime break down some of Counter‑Strike's biggest storylines. We discuss Astralis' hard‑capped ceiling to the global state of roster moves, the future of Majors, why this could be NAVI's worst year ever, Liquid's ongoing turmoil, and more. Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are here to help you crush your new year goals! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to get 20% off sitewide Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code CS2 at https://shopmando.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The esports model for teams is broken! We break down why the current esports ecosystem is financially broken for teams and how publisher-controlled revenue models have created deep misalignment. Featuring Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur, the conversation explores why previous league revenue models failed, how Riot's approach in League of Legends and VALORANT differs, the rise of “moneyball” roster building, and what a future Superleague or structural reset might look like. We also cover alternative revenue opportunities, the state of sponsorship value, and what meaningful changes could actually save the ecosystem. Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/horsemen50off and use code horsemen50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year. Quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless! Plans start at $15/month at https://MintMobile.com/FOURHORSEMEN Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code HORSEMEN at https://shopmando.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠In the Notorious Mass Effect segment, Analytic Dreamz delivers a comprehensive breakdown of the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the world's largest esports event returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 to August 23—a massive 7-week festival with a record-breaking $75 million prize pool. Over 2,000 players from 200+ clubs across 100+ countries compete in 25 tournaments spanning 24 games, including Dota 2 ($5M), Fortnite Reload ($10M), PUBG Mobile ($3M), Apex Legends ($2M), Counter-Strike 2 ($2M), and newcomers like Trackmania ($500K) and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 ($1M). Champions crowned every weekend. The flagship Club Championship awards $30M to top 24 clubs (up from $27M in 2025), with $7M to the ultimate cross-game winner—last year's race went to the final week. Individual game prizes exceed $39M, plus MVPs, Jafonso Awards, and qualifiers. Week 1 kicks off with Dota 2, Apex, Fatal Fury; finals feature CS2, Trackmania. Tickets on sale since Jan 22—weekly passes, premium access available. Analytic Dreamz analyzes strategic shifts, new games (Fortnite returns, Starcraft 2 out), qualification paths, and why EWC cements Riyadh as esports capital. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode breaks down why tier‑2 LANs are returning, how PGL finally secured top‑tier teams for Cluj, why NiP could secretly level up with new talent, and why MOUZ refusing roster changes may cap their ceiling. We also dive into  the HLTV Award debates, from Zyw0o vs. donk to questionable guest panels.  Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SNAKE and use code SNAKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!  Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are here to help you crush your new year goals! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to get 20% off sitewide  Head to https://factormeals.com/snake50off and use code snake50off to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Step into a special post-major episode of Snake & Banter featuring James Banks, where the crew breaks down the latest Counter-Strike major, NAVI's surprise peak, Spirit's fast roster changes, and the heartbreak around The Mongolz' collapse. From Banks' brutal no-days-off schedule and “vaulted” interview content to the lost archives of SK Gaming and Xfire, this episode doubles as a deep dive into CS history, mentality, and how much elite teams rely on sports psychology to unlock players like w0nderful and donk.  Head to https://Fabletics.com/SNAKE and sign up as a VIP to get eighty percent off everything!  Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/SNAKE50OFF and use code SNAKE50OFF to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year.  Turn your expensive wireless present into a huge wireless savings future by switching to Mint Mobile! Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/SNAKEBANTER  Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SANDB. Promo Code SANDB  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠Dive into the Notorious Mass Effect podcast with host Analytic Dreamz as we dissect Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) – Valve's free-to-play tactical FPS masterpiece that replaced CS:GO in 2023. Built on the Source 2 engine with sub-tick architecture for precise hit registration and revolutionary volumetric smokes, CS2 delivers unmatched gunplay in MR12 competitive modes, Premier rankings, and a thriving economy centered on weapons, utilities, and over 1,000 skins.Analytic Dreamz explores the game's massive player base exceeding 1.8 million concurrent peaks in 2025, billions in revenue from cases and Prime upgrades, persistent cheating controversies, and the seismic October 2025 update introducing Trade-Up Contracts for knives and gloves – crashing the skin market by billions overnight and reshaping virtual asset values.From pro losses to improved accessibility, this segment analyzes CS2's performance, economy shock, and future implications. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Four Horsemen return with their annual State of Counter-Strike special, featuring messioso (now Head of CS Operations at 100 Thieves) to break down the health of North American and global Counter-Strike in 2025. They dive into 100 Thieves' re-entry into CS with a European-based roster, the impact of betting sponsors, and what Rain, gla1ve, and a rumored device pickup really mean for the scene. They also debate expectations for new “super teams,” the dominance of Vitality, the resurgence of FURIA, and whether this year ranks among the all-time great CS seasons.  Come join LFN hosts and fans for some fun competition in Mechabellum this holiday season! Play in our 2v2 tournament on December 20th to have a chance to win $500 in cash alongside in-game rewards. Use code “LastFreeNation” in Mechabellum to earn a special, holiday-themed in-game reward (available starting the 18th of December).Mechabellum on Steam: https://bit.ly/4oLm3Jg  If you want to get ExpressVPN at its lowest price ever, plus four extra months of service, go to https://ExpressVPN.com/HORSEMEN  Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/horsemen50off and use code horsemen50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year!  Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/HORSEMAN  Raycon audio products are up to 20% off this holiday season! Go to https://buyraycon.com/HORSEMENOPEN to save on Raycon audio products sitewide.  Turn your expensive wireless present into a huge wireless savings future by switching to Mint Mobile! Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/FOURHORSEMEN  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Snake & Banter, Thorin, Mauisnake, and guest Snappi, the IGL for NiP, discuss some of the biggest talking points in Counter-Strike esports. Topics include Snappi's experience at the Budapest Major, FURIA and Spirit's strong tactical play, ash stepping down from GamerLegion, G2 missing the Major Playoffs, and criticism of the direction of the new 100 Thieves CS project.  Turn your expensive wireless present into a huge wireless savings future by switching to Mint Mobile! Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/SNAKEBANTER  Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SANDB. Promo Code SANDB  Raycon audio products are up to 20% off this holiday season! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to save on Raycon audio products sitewide. Order by December 15th guarantee delivery by Christmas because great gifts shouldn't show up late.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we talk about in-game skins, investment portfolios, and Counter-Strike 2.We also discuss ebooks, Steam, and digital licenses.Recommended Book: Apple in China by Patrick McGeeTranscriptAlmost always, if you buy an ebook or game or movie or music album online, you're not buying that ebook, or that game, or whatever else—you're buying a license that allows you access it, often on a specified device or in a specified way, and almost always in a non-transferrable, non-permanent manner.This distinction doesn't matter much to most of us most of the time. If I buy an ebook, chances are I just want to read that ebook on the device I used to buy it, or the kindle attached to my Amazon or other digital book service account. So I buy the book, read it on my ebook reader or phone, and that's that; same general experience I would have with a paperback or hardback book.This difference becomes more evident when you think about what happens to the book after you read it, though. If I own a hard-copy, physical book, I can resell it. I can donate it. I can put it in a Little Free Library somewhere in my neighborhood, or give it to a friend who I think will enjoy it. I can pick it up off my shelf later and read the exact same book I read years before. Via whichever mechanism I choose, I'm either holding onto that exact book for later, or I'm transferring ownership of that book, that artifact that contains words and/or images that can now be used, read, whatever by that second owner. And they can go on to do the same: handing it off to a friend, selling it on ebay, or putting it on a shelf for later reference.Often the convenience and immediacy of electronic books makes this distinction a non-issue for those who enjoy them. I can buy an ebook from Amazon or Bookshop.org and that thing is on my device within seconds, giving me access to the story or information that's the main, valuable component of a book for most of us, without any delay, without having to drive to a bookstore or wait for it to arrive in the mail. That's a pretty compelling offer.This distinction becomes more pressing, however, if I decide I want to go back and read an ebook I bought years ago, later, only to find that the license has changed and maybe that book is no longer accessible via the marketplace where I purchased it. If that happens, I no longer have access to the book, and there's no recourse for this absence—I agreed to this possibility when I “bought” the book, based on the user agreement I clicked ‘OK' or ‘I agree' on when I signed up for Amazon or whichever service I paid for that book-access.It also becomes more pressing if, as has happened many times over the past few decades, the publisher or some other entity with control over these book assets decides to change them.A few years ago, for instance, British versions of Roald Dalh's ‘Matilda' were edited to remove references to Joseph Conrad, who has in recent times been criticized for his antisemitism and racist themes in his writing. Some of RL Stine's Goosebumps books were edited to remove references to crushes schoolgirls had on their headmaster, and descriptions of an overweight character that were, in retrospect, determined to be offensive. And various racial and ethnic slurs were edited out of some of Agatha Christie's works around the same time.Almost always, these changes aren't announced by the publishers who own the rights to these books, and they're typically only discovered by eagle-eyed readers who note that, for instance, the publishers decided to change the time period in which something occurred, which apparently happened in one of Stine's works, without obvious purpose. This also frequently happens without the author being notified, as was the case with Stine and the edits made to his books. The publishers themselves, when asked directly about these changes, often remain silent on the matter.What I'd like to talk about today is another angle of this distinction between physically owned media and digital, licensed versions of the same, and the at times large sums of money that can be gained or lost based on the decisions of the companies that control these licensed assets.—Counter-Strike 2 is a first-person shooter game that's free-to-play, was released in 2023, and was developed by a company called Valve.Valve has developed all sorts of games over the years, including the Counter-Strike, Half-Life, DOTA, and Portal games, but they're probably best known for their Steam software distribution platform.Steam allows customers to buy all sorts of software, but mostly games through an interface that also provides chat services and community forums. But the primary utility of this platform is that it's a marketplace for buying and selling games, and it has match-making features for online multiplayer games, serves as a sort of library for gamers, so all their games are launchable from one place, and it serves as a digital rights management hub, which basically means it helps game companies ensure users aren't playing with pirated software—if you want to use steam to store and launch your games, they have to be legit, purchased games, not pirated ones.As of early 2025, it was estimated that Steam claimed somewhere between 75-80% of the PC gaming market, compared to competitors like the Epic Game Store, which was founded by the folks behind the wildly successful game, Fortnite, which can only claim something like 5%.And Counter-Strike is one of Valve's, and Steam's crown jewels. It's a free-to-play game that was originally developed as a mod, a free add-on to another game Valve owns called Half-Life, but Valve bought up the rights to that mod and developed it into its own thing, releasing the initial entry in the series in 2000, several main-series games after that in subsequent years, and then Counter-Strike 2 came out in 2023, to much acclaim and fanfare.Counter-Strike 2 often has around a million players online, playing the game at any given moment, and its tournaments can attract closer to 1.5 million. As of early 2024, it was estimated that Counter-Strike 2 pulled in around a billion dollars a year for Valve, primarily via what are called Case Keys, which allow players to open in-game boxes, each key selling for $2.50. Valve also takes a 15% cut of all player-to-player sales of items conducted on the Steam Community Market, which is a secure ebay- or Amazon-like component of their platform where players can sell digital items from the game, which are primarily aesthetic add-ons, like skins for weapons, stickers, and clothing—things that allow players to look different in the game, as opposed to things that allow them to perform better, which would give players who spent the most money an unfair advantage and thus make the game less competitive and fun.Because this is a free game, though, and by many estimates a really balance and well-made one, a lot of people play it, and a lot of people want to customize the look of their in-game avatar. So being able to open in-game boxes that contain loot, and being able to buy and sell said loot on the Steam Community Market, has led to a rich secondary economy that makes that component of the game more interesting for players, while also earning Valve a whole lot of money on the backend for those keys and that cut of sales between players.In late-October of 2025, Valve announced a change in the rules for Counter-Strike 2, now allowing players to trade-up more item types, including previously un-trade-up-able items like gloves and knives, into higher-grade versions of the same. So common items could be bundled together and traded in for less common items, and those less common items could be bundled together and traded up for rare ones.This seems like a small move from the outside, but it roiled the CS2 in-game economy, by some estimates causing upwards of $2 billion to basically disappear overnight, because rare gloves and knives were at times valued at as much as $1.5 million; again, these are just aesthetic skins that change the look of a player's avatar or weapons, but there's enough demand for these things that some people are willing to pay that much for ultra-rare and unique glove and knife skins.Because of that demand, some players had taken to spending real money on these ultra-rare items, treating their in-game portfolios of skins as something like an investment portfolio. If you can buy an ultra-rare glove skin for $40,000 and maybe sell it later for twice that, that might seem like a really good investment, despite how strange it may seem to those not involved in this corner of the gaming world to spend $40,000 on what's basically just some code in a machine that tells the game that the gloves on your avatar will look a certain way.This change, then, made those rarer gloves and knives, which were previously unattainable except by lottery-like chance, a lot more common, because people could trade up for them, increasing their chances of getting the ultra-rare stuff. The market was quickly flooded with more of these things, and about half the value of rare CS2 skins disappeared, initially knocking about $6 billion of total value from the market before stabilizing to around $1.5-2 billion.Volatility in this market continues, and people who invested a lot of money, sometimes their life savings, and sometimes millions of dollars into CS2 in-game skins, have been looking into potential legal recourse, though without much luck; Valve's user agreements make very clear that players don't own any of this stuff, and as a result, Valve can manipulate the market however they like, whenever they like.Just like with ebooks and movies we “buy” from Amazon and other services, then, these in-game assets are licensed to us, not sold. We may, at times, have a means of putting our license to some of these things on a secondary market, but that secondary market exists completely at the whim of the entity that actually owns the digital assets—in this case, Valve.Recent court cases have resulted in clearer language from some license-selling companies, including Valve—though in most cases the buttons we click still say something like “Buy Now” rather than “Acquire License,” and the specifics of what we're purchasing are hidden within a wall of legal text.So for the moment, at least, this sort of confusion will probably continue, with periodic wake-up calls for folks on the receiving end of updates or edits that impact them financially, or impact their ability to access what they thought they were buying, but which is later removed from their account, or changed without their knowledge or permission.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporationhttps://theconversation.com/2b-counter-strike-2-crash-exposes-a-legal-black-hole-your-digital-investments-arent-really-yours-268749https://blix.gg/news/cs-2/how-to-make-money-with-cs2-skins-in-2025/http://tomshardware.com/video-games/ludicrous-usd6-billion-counter-strike-2-skins-market-crashes-loses-usd3-billion-overnight-game-update-destroys-inventories-collapses-markethttps://www.kvue.com/article/news/nation-world/counter-strike-2-online-market-crash/507-ae9be038-2833-49d4-a5b4-d8f24fd0b33chttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strikehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games_Storehttps://www.sahmcapital.com/news/content/counter-strike-skins-market-hits-1-billion-valves-virtual-goldmine-revealed-2024-01-22https://mezha.ua/en/news/counter-strike-2-100-mln-dohodu-za-keysi-u-berezni-301011/https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2024/10/california-becomes-first-state-to-pass-law-targeting-advertising-of-digital-media-licenseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_economyhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/arts/dahl-christie-stine-kindle-edited.htmlhttps://bookriot.com/do-you-really-own-your-ebookshttps://jipel.law.nyu.edu/can-you-own-an-ebook-a-summary-of-the-anti-ownership-ebook-economy-report/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Reddit moderator shenanigans, sad status of the failed Sony game: Concord, CS2 skins update ruining billions in investments, and more this week at the Time Sink!r/Art Screenshotsr/Art Dramar/Art Artist gets bannedClash of ClansConcordConcord Fan ProjectSecret LevelCS2 skin update ‘rug pulls' collectors(0:00) Intro(0:20) r/Art Drama (21:39) Concord(47:28) CS2 Skin Update

In this episode of Snake & Banter, Thorin, Mauisnake, and guest AN1MO discuss some of the biggest talking points in Counter-Strike esports. Topics include the crowds at the Budapest CS2 Major, Twistzz performing the best he ever has on FaZe, why Astralis is looking doomed, problems with Valve's pick'ems, gla1ve going to 100 Thieves, and more! Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SANDB. Promo Code SANDB Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off  by going to https://www.Ridge.com/SNAKE Raycon audio products are up to 20% off this holiday season! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to save on Raycon audio products sitewide. Order by December 15th guarantee delivery by Christmas because great gifts shouldn't show up late. Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/SNAKE50OFF and use code SNAKE50OFF to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are joined by former CS2 and R6 Siege player Swifted.  He is a Canadian national champion and has been a part of many organizations in his career.Follow Alex and Jeremy on Twitter for updates and feel free to interact with us.  We are all very responsive and love feedback, so hit us up!  In Bed By 9 Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/ibb9podcastIn Bed By 9 Merch:  https://inbedby9-shop.fourthwall.com/?Twitter Handles:Alex: @DiabolicTutor01 Jeremy: @jeremycunnings1In Bed By 9:  @InBedBy9PodcastTwitch Channels:Alex: https://www.twitch.tv/diabolictutor01Jeremy: https://www.twitch.tv/jeremycunningsBe sure to leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, or anywhere you get your podcasts!  Be sure to check out our merch store and pick up some cool creator gear.

In this episode of Snake & Banter, Thorin, Mauisnake, and guest Anders dive deep into the current state of Counter-Strike 2 — from tier‑2 monsters and AI‑generated talent, to the shrinking gap between tiers, star performances at the Budapest Major, and the brutal realities of tournament organizer wars.  Go to https://Kalshi.com and use promo code LFN. Make your first $100 worth of trades and you'll automatically receive a $10 bonus.  Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off  by going to https://www.Ridge.com/SNAKE  Don't get them socks. Get them premium wireless for $15/mo. Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at https://MINT MOBILE.com/SNAKEBANTER.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Snake and Banter, the hosts dive deep into the state of competitive Counter-Strike ahead of the upcoming Major. They discuss Hawka's rapid-reaction content strategy inspired by football media, the evolving talent landscape in CS casting and analysis, and break down the most competitive CS scene in years with storylines around Vitality, FURIA, Falcons, Spirit, G2, and other dark horses.  Treat yourself to gear that looks good, feels good, and doesn't break the bank with Fabletics. Go to https://Fabletics.com/SNAKE and sign up as a VIP and get eighty percent off everything. Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SANDB. Promo Code SANDB Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/SNAKE50OFF and use code SNAKE50OFF to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year..  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Four Horsemen, the hosts dive deep into the massive shake-up in the Counter-Strike skin market caused by Valve's recent update. They unpack how Valve's “trade-up” changes have crashed high-tier item prices, wiping out an estimated $2-3 billion in market value overnight, and explore the long history of skins gambling scandals, influencer manipulation, and the hidden economics that prop up the CS esports scene.  The Last Free Nation merch shop is open, and now includes the Four Horsemen logo t-shirt! Show off your fandom and support us and by purchasing the high-quality items on our merch shop. Check our website for more info on shipping! https://lastfreenation.shop  Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% off Ridge at https://Ridge.com by using code HORSEMAN at checkout  Protect your online privacy TODAY by visiting https://ExpressVPN.com/horsemen and you can get up to four extra months.  Black Friday is around the corner, and Raycon audio products are up to 30% off sitewide! Go to https://buyraycon.com/HORSEMENOPEN to save on Raycon audio products sitewide.  Ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch at https://MINTMOBILE.com/fourhorsemen.Upfront payment of $45 required (equivalent to $15/mo.). Limited time new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speeds may slow above 35GB on Unlimited plan. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Snake and Banter, Mauisnake, Thorin, and guest flashie — head coach of Team Liquid — dive deep into the current Counter-Strike scene, discussing the good, bad, and ugly of the game right now.  Black Friday is around the corner, and Raycon audio products are up to 30% off sitewide! Go to https://buyraycon.com/SNAKEOPEN to save on Raycon audio products sitewide.  Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/SNAKE50OFF and use code SNAKE50OFF to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A shocking $2 billion market crash in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), where the value of ultra-rare cosmetic skins has plummeted. Plus, Masahiro Sakurai unveiled new features for Kirby Air Ride 2, including the Road Trip challenge mode and the Top Ride top-down racer supporting up to eight players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Valve killed off the CS2 skins market and people have, literally, lost everything. Xbox's newest handheld is crazy expensive and there are talks that their next console will be a PC hybrid. Pez has played a few indie games and they're delightful. 

Jack and Steven are back for another episode of Unfunny Buffoonery, talking about the recent CS2 update (which changed the entire economy of Counter Strike... something most listeners likely could care less about), Snapple bringing glass bottles back, movies vs. TV shows, milk, let's see here, um, house plants, hamster-sized golden retrievers... yeah, this one had a lot of weird shit discussed.

00:00:00 - Volt már ilyen?00:01:43 - Miért ilyenkor kezdődik?00:02:52 - Még csak távirányítású a NEO Home Robot?00:09:12 - Vége a Sziget Fesztiválnak?00:11:36 - A tapasz00:13:02 - Fesztiválok leépítése az évek alatt00:14:48 - Fesztivál méretek00:16:47 - Rendezvényszervezés magas költségei00:19:39 - MSB 4 és a rendezvények költségei00:30:22 - Darkenstein 3D és Fekete Miki szörnykeresése00:33:38 - CS2 skin piac és más befektetések00:42:04 - Gondolatolvasás és interakciók a HH-ban00:47:53 - Befejezés

Timestamps: 00:00 Start 08:15 NBA 13:22 SUNSfan recommends 18:00 Fissure Universe 7 22:14 Blast Slam IV 24:56 Fissure Playground 2 30:07 Dota Youtube hacked 32:48 Stinger Pakazs drama 42:00 CS2 market crash 55:13 Dota figurine commissions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode LevelCap and Matimi0 discuss CS2's insane skin market crash, Battlefield 6's Battle Royale mode, Arc Raiders launch, and much more! Support us on Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/LevelWithMePodcast Join Our Discord and make suggestions for our next episode topics https://discord.gg/nxBQZ6eh8H

Timestamps: 0:00 ooooh it's gettin spicy 0:10 Valve's Steam update ganks CS2 market 1:19 Microsoft responds to ChatGPT Atlas with Clippy 2:54 Xbox Profits + Halo on PS5 4:36 Rove Lab! 5:25 QUICK BITS INTRO 5:35 Apple threatens to withhold privacy feature 6:11 Apple will help you switch to Android? 6:47 Memory prices hiked 30% 7:18 Nike Project Amplify 7:48 Poker fraud used X-ray tables, smart glasses NEWS SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/rci1Y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It do be like that, CS2's economy takes a tumble, Drew DeVault tries canceling dark enlightenment, Trump celebrates Diwali, EBT payments at risk, Oneidus's filing, VTuber puppet house, Shane Nokes's grand appearance, Ana Kasperian says hi, Hambly sells tires, Hasan takes the blackpill, and Ralph breaks up.

rain joins HLTV Confirmed after being benched on FaZe to talk about his history with the team, recent struggles, and what the future holds. Other topics include LAN fiesta, the VRS race for Major invites, and surprising EPL Stage 1 results.➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed

Hi everyone! How are you?Sorry for being late (I think this is becoming a habit), I couldn't pay for the podcast hosting this month and until I got the money I couldn't upload anything new, which brings me to this question.I've been offered the chance to monetise the podcast. As you know, there are several things you have to pay for to have a podcast, one of which is hosting. I've been given two options:1) Make it ‘Premium'. What does Premium mean? It means that listeners (in this case, they would be called subscribers) pay €1 per month and receive the content a week in advance of free listeners. (I've ruled this out because I don't know your personal situations).2) Put in advertising. Although I'm very much against advertising, they've given me the option of putting advertising at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the show (I think putting it at the beginning and in the middle is an absurd idea, I would put it at the end), but I'm still considering this option.Why am I telling you this?Simple, I want to know what you think, what you think about the idea and how I should implement it... Should I continue to be late due to non-payment and not worry about it? Should I make it Premium for those who pay? Or should I include advertising and turn it into a weekly show?It's all up to you. You know how to contact me, I'm itsBamf on Instagram/X and you'll find my email at the end of this comment. I want to read your opinions.Other than that, I'll keep making music as usual, preparing the next mix and playing a bit of CS2, hehe.Love you all ❤️❤️❤️Farewell,Bamf.Tracklist:0:00 Mujo - Desert Flower1:33 Mujo - Pool3:27 Beowülf, Philanthrope - SALINAS4:44 Philanthrope - Azure7:10 softy - Inaudible8:49 Kupla, Complex Channel Records - Waiting On…11:07 Mujo, Strong.AL& - Mystic Forest13:15 Bamf - Ponds15:29 saint rumi - on the horizon17:48 coldbrew - casting soft glows20:00 Bcalm - rest day22:30 Laffey - gratitude24:27 fnonose, Dontcry - don't wake me up26:54 Tibeauthetraveler, Hoogway - half asleep29:10 Juliàn, after noon - moonset31:19 Bcalm, Dontcry - night and day33:31 Dontcry, cxlt. - Remember That Time35:35 Juliàn, fluttr - birds that never return38:26 Bcalm, Dontcry - where we first metPlaylists: https://bamf.biglink.to/PlaylistsDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/7MBfHrRs39Instagram/Twitter: itsBamf

Timestamps: 00:00 my little tech babs 00:08 YouTube age estimation model rolls out in the US 02:03 Reddit blocks Internet Archive over AI scraping concerns 03:08 Elon Musk vs. OpenAI drama escalates 04:33 Vessi! 05:28 QUICK BITS INTRO 05:33 Former Intel CEO's plan to “save” the company 06:24 Pixel 10 Pro Fold teaser – don't buy a Pixel yet 06:34 Perplexity AI offers $34.5B for Google Chrome 06:58 UK urges citizens to delete old emails to save water 07:26 Pebble Time 2 smartwatch unveiled 08:00 YouTuber hacks muscles to improve CS2 skills NEWS SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/QmfiQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YEKINDAR joins HLTV Confirmed to discuss joining FURIA and impressions of playing with FalleN and molody, as well as the hot reports of Spirit getting tN1R instead of zont1x while xfl0ud returns to HEROIC. Other topics are first s1mple with BCGame impressions, BLAST results, VRS cutoff implications, YaLLa going under, while CAC creates a mess.➡️ Follow us for updates: / hltvconfirmed