Season 9 on FACEIT will receive two notable changes at once, which may affect not only matchmaking, but also the atmosphere of the games themselves. The platform is bringing one of the most controversial maps back into the pool, while also launching a short test of a feature the community has long debated.
Both decisions were the result of player voting. This makes the start of the new season not just another ranking reset, but an attempt to test how ready the audience itself is for a more open and dynamic match format.
Vertigo returns to matchmaking
Vertigo will officially join FACEIT matchmaking in Season 9 on August 5. The map received 97,421 community votes and finished ahead of the other options:
- Train received 64,744 votes,
- Overpass — 49,900,
- Fachwerk — 11,933,
- Boulder — 10,918.
The key point is that matches on Vertigo will count toward ELO. In other words, this is not just an additional map for fun, but a full part of the ranking system. At the same time, it will remain optional: players will be able to remove Vertigo from selection without a subscription and without needing to change their other map bans.
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Why the choice of Vertigo looks telling
Vertigo has always been a map that strongly divides the community. Some players value it for its verticality, fast contact rounds, and unconventional duel structure. Others, on the contrary, consider it too chaotic and less comfortable for the classic FACEIT approach.
That is why its return does not look accidental. In terms of votes, Vertigo did not simply win — it did so by a large margin. This shows that a significant part of the audience wants more variety in the pool and is ready to give the map another chance in the ranking environment.
Half-time voice chat returns as a test
The second major change will be the return of voice chat between teams during halftime. The vote ended with 79% in favor of the feature out of a total of 106,647 votes.
The feature will work as a one-week test — from August 5 to August 12. Voice chat will open at halftime and close after the sides switch. In other words, this will not be permanent inter-team chat for the entire match, but only a short window for communication between the two halves of the game.
A potential upside and risk at the same time
The idea looks interesting because it may bring more emotion back into matches. In such moments, there is room for psychological play, jokes, tension, and reactions after the first half. For some players, this may make matches feel more alive and closer to the old CS atmosphere.
But the risk is also obvious. Voice chat between teams can easily turn into toxicity, especially in tense games. That is why the one-week format looks logical: FACEIT will be able to check whether the feature truly adds emotion to matches or creates more problems than benefits.
Season 9 starts with experiments
The return of Vertigo and the half-time voice chat test make the start of Season 9 noticeably more interesting. FACEIT is not simply updating the ranking cycle, but adding changes that directly affect both the map and communication between players.
The main conclusion is simple: Season 9 will begin not only with a new ELO cycle, but also with a test of two important ideas. Vertigo will show whether the community is ready to accept a more unconventional map pool, while voice chat will show whether inter-team communication can be brought back without losing control over match quality.
