Reviving Nostalgia: JFX Designs Takes on Cobblestone’s Reimagining in Counter-Strike 2
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A Counter-Strike 2 map designer is undertaking the challenging task of reworking a divisive classic—Cobblestone. While the specifics of the redesign are still in the early stages, the initial results are promising, generating excitement among fans eager to experience the map once again.
Joshua Roberts, known in the gaming community as JFX Designs, is a skilled 3D designer and map creator with a history of porting maps from various titles into CS2. His notable achievements include a modernized version of the iconic Call of Duty map, Nuketown, featuring enhanced lighting and built entirely within the Source engine.
Now, JFX Designs is setting his sights on Cobblestone, a map that hasn’t been seen in competitive play for nearly five years—much to the disappointment of its fans.
On October 12, JFX Designs shared a work-in-progress update on the Counter-Strike subreddit. While significant gameplay changes have yet to be made, the initial phase of the redesign involves porting the original map into the upgraded Source engine.
The designer opted to base his port on the 2018 Halloween redesign by Valve. This particular update received a mixed reception from the community, as it introduced major alterations—such as relocating the A bombsite, flattening the B Platform, and changing the CT jump-up in Drop—leading many to believe that Cobblestone’s fate was sealed.
Within a year, Cobblestone was removed from the matchmaking pool, and aside from a brief appearance in CS2’s launch trailer, fans have had little to cling to for over five years. However, a glimpse of the beloved map is resurfacing, at least in its early development stages. Many of the images shared by JFX Designs depict an unfinished product, showcasing existing textures alongside elements of the new Source 2 lighting. The designer is not only updating the visuals but also considering potential gameplay adjustments. As one enthusiastic fan put it, “It has to be done, I crave Cobblestone.”
Cobblestone is not the only nostalgic map undergoing a transformation; other classics are also seeing updates. Recently, there have been previews of an enhanced version of Cache from renowned map makers FMPONE and Volcano. Similar to JFX Designs’ approach with Cobblestone, FMPONE first ported the original Cache into the new engine before making further modifications.
The latest update on Cache from FMPONE surfaced in late September, showcasing aesthetic changes that align it more closely with its original design, moving away from the mossy green rework introduced in 2019.
Additionally, a remastered map, Thera—an updated version of Santorini—was added to CS2 in the June update, further illustrating the trend of reviving classic maps. With many players being longtime veterans of the franchise, the resurgence of beloved maps will always spark interest among the fanbase.
For those eager to get their hands on Cobblestone, an experimental version of de_cbble is currently available in CS2 through the Steam Workshop. Meanwhile, I’m left hoping for a CS2 version of Insertion—I want my four spawn points back!
