FMPONE releases de_Splinter for Counter-Strike 2

Shawn “FMPONE” Snelling published de_Splinter, a new de_ (defusal) map for Counter-Strike 2, to the Steam Workshop on April 12, 2026. The map places players in a sawmill and logistics complex set in the Canadian Rockies with visual references to Moraine Lake.

Built with Source 2 tools, de_Splinter uses advanced lighting, realistic material shaders and high-resolution environmental assets. The design emphasizes verticality and narrow engagement lanes, with multi-level sightlines that alter common tactical calculations.

Snelling described the map as a spiritual successor to de_Coaline. Players and community members have compared elements of the bombsite architecture and flow to established competitive maps such as Inferno and Basalt. The vertical layout provides attackers with alternate angles that can be effective against typical defensive smoke setups.

The map is available for all Counter-Strike 2 players via the Steam Workshop. Snelling plans to issue iterative updates after launch to address performance and balance based on player feedback and telemetry data.

Reports from players and testers flagged optimization problems on some hardware, including frame-rate drops tied to dense environmental detail. Observations of reduced visual clarity cited decorative features, such as large windows that can be mistaken for playable positions. Technical issues reported in the initial release include missing collision on certain walls and locations where the C4 can become stuck if dropped.

Community posts highlighted the map’s visual detail and the new tactical options created by its vertical spaces. Some competitive players expressed hope that de_Splinter could be added to the official Active Duty map pool; Valve and tournament organizers change the competitive rotation infrequently. The most recent major update to the Active Duty pool occurred on January 22, 2026, when Anubis returned and replaced Train. No official announcement has been made regarding the addition of de_Splinter to the pool.

Snelling, better known by his alias FMPONE, co-created the map Cache and remains a prominent level designer for the Counter-Strike series. De_Splinter is his first major Workshop release following the game’s transition to Source 2. Snelling has indicated future projects include a map titled de_Vegas and possible work on independent game development outside of Counter-Strike.