Valve releases IEM Cologne stickers with a massive change

Hardly a couple of weeks away from 2026's first Counter-Strike 2 Major, Valve just released the Pick'Em update for IEM Cologne 2026 with a massive change to stickers. Counter-Strike's biggest and most important tournament will return to Cologne after ten years but will not feature sticker capsules. Instead, the new system allows players to directly purchase the stickers of their choice using in-game tokens (100 tokens = $0.99 USD = ~₹95 INR).

However, most of the community were surprised when Valve announced that the stickers would not carry static prices but vary depending on the demand. The community did not take this change very well, critiquing Valve for dynamically pricing items with indefinite supply when in reality the concept is used to maintain supply of depleting items.

While this (sticker capsules) approach was popular, we've heard feedback that players might prefer to purchase stickers directly. Additionally, players in certain regions cannot purchase sticker capsules. So we're exploring alternatives that allow all players to participate.
Valve

Valve also changed how souvenirs work, which again did not sit well with the community. Any weapon in a player's inventory can now be turned into a souvenir by selecting a match that has completed. The weapon will receive gold team, player autograph and map stickers. The changes with souvenir does not end there as the game now allows souvenirs to be used in trade-up contracts.

The viewer pass for the Major can be bought for ₹910 INR and ₹1,640 INR (+300 tokens) from the IEM Cologne Major Hub in the main menu. Players have 11 days from now to lock in their picks, stay tuned as we bring you popular picks from around the community soon. The monetary benefits for teams from the sticker sales also sees a significant change.

As usual, Valve will split the revenue from sticker sales, handing out 50% of the total number to the tournament organizer, teams and players. With sticker capsules out of the equation, the developer will take token sales into consideration for the revenue split. However, the amount that teams take home depends on their performance in the Major. Before the Major begins, teams with a higher seed earn more from the token sales and once the Major concludes, teams with higher placements earn more.

The tournament organizer bags 5% of the revenue from token sales and the winner takes 2.85%. Teams should finish within the top eight to secure 2% or more from the token sales and top 22 or more to secure 1% or more. The teams that finish last (0-3 in stage 1) will take home 0.72% of the revenue from token sales.

Check out Valve's blogpost for more information