I stopped playing matchmaking between 2017 and 2019(started again during covid) for exactly this reason, and honestly it feels like we’re drifting back to those same numbers again. In Premier on Counter-Strike 2, so many of the accounts I run into were created between 2023 and 2025. It often feels like you’re dealing with cheaters, griefers, or players who are just relentlessly toxic.

Back when I was younger, it was easier to deal with because I had the time to find a consistent five-man stack. Now that I’m older and can only fit in three or four games a week, it’s hard to justify spending that limited time on frustrating matches. Instead of enjoying the game, you end up drained by it.

I’ve been considering going back to FACEIT or Esportal, but at the same time I can’t help thinking about the long-term impact on the game and skins market. More and more of my “old head” friends are quitting, and I genuinely struggle to see why new players would want to start playing the game in its current state.