Setup & Running: Spectating CS2 Matches

Avatar
Raphael
(Updated )

General Info

By default, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) match spectating is only enabled for 2v2, Wingman, and 5v5 game modes across the FACEIT platform.

This feature’s functionality can vary depending on the configuration set up by the Tournament Organizer, or on any additional features added in or whitelisted per-Organizer by the FACEIT Creator Partnerships team via partnerships@faceit.com.

CS2 match spectating is only enabled for Tournaments and is not intended for Club queues.

The spectator is not required to run the FACEIT Anti-Cheat client to connect to the game server using either connectivity method.

 

This guide will explain the quick how-tos, and the three basic ways of how CS2 match spectating works on FACEIT:

  • How To Connect/Spectate: A quick comparison between the connection options.
  1. In-Game Spectating: Have a pre-whitelisted FACEIT user (spectator) connect directly to the game server’s “SPEC” slot.
  2. CSTV: Have a tournament admin/observer with access to the Matchpage connect to the main game server’s CSTV without pre-whitelisting them.
  3. CSTV Playcast: Have any logged-in FACEIT user with access to the Matchpage connect to a playcast (a CSTV relay server). TOs must be whitelisted to access this feature.

 

How To Connect/Spectate

  1. Log into your FACEIT account,
  2. Locate the FACEIT Matchroom,
  3. Once a game server is ready, connect to the Gameserver/CSTV/Playcast using the respective buttons:
    1. In-Game Spectating - use the ‘Connect to Server’ or the ‘Copy IP’ button.
    2. CSTV - use the ‘Spectate’ button.
    3. CSTV Playcast - use the ‘Spectate In-Game’ button.

 

Option 1: In-Game Spectating - Setup

For admins:

  • If a tournament has already started, adding a spectator through Tournament Settings will only apply to matches that are yet to be generated. Already generated matches will not automatically reflect the changes, and you will have to update the spectators individually for each Matchroom.

For observers:

  • The in-game cvar tv_secure_bypass is enabled, but it will not work here because this is a direct connection, as the game servers are VAC-protected. If you are using third-party applications, only connect via CSTV or CSTV Playcast.
  • The direct spectator is only required to have the CS2 game linked to their FACEIT account and not have any active platform bans.

Adding an in-game spectator from Tournament Settings

  1. Ensure the spectator you are trying to add is on your friends list and has CS2 linked to their FACEIT account
  2. Navigate to Tournament > Settings > Spectators
  3. Search for the user you wish to add as a spectator and confirm changes by clicking ‘Save Changes.’


 

Adding an in-game spectator from Matchroom

  1. Ensure the spectator you are trying to add is on your friends list and has CS2 linked to their FACEIT account
  2. Navigate to Matchroom > The ‘three dots’ icon > Edit spectators
  3. Search for the user you wish to add as a spectator and confirm changes by clicking ‘Change.’

 

Option 2: CSTV - Setup

For admins:

  • The Tournament Organizer can edit the following values through Tournament/Club queue settings:
    • CSTV delay
  • *Other variables that may be applied using a custom game configuration:
    • CSTV custom password
    • CSTV1 toggle
    • CSTV1 delay
    • CSTV1 custom password

For observers:

  • The in-game cvar tv_secure_bypass is enabled for all CSTVs by default.

 

*For custom variables, game configurations, the secondary CSTV, or custom server locations, please inquire our FACEIT Creator Partnerships team using the contact option mentioned at the start of this support article.

 

Option 3: CSTV Playcast - Setup

This feature is only available to certain Organizers. If you want your Organizer whitelisted for this feature, please contact the FACEIT Creator Partnerships team using the contact option mentioned at the start of this support article.

This feature enables any logged-in user on the platform to connect to a relay/CS2 playcast server, for which the IP differs from the actual game server’s.

The delay for the CSTV Playcast is essentially a value of the set CSTV delay + an additional 24 seconds.
For example: CSTV delay 20s + 24s = 44s (Relay delay)

For observers:

  • The in-game cvar tv_secure_bypass is enabled for all CSTVs by default, including Playcast relays.
  • CSTV Playcast relays have TV chat disabled by default.


 

Enabling CSTV Playcast (if your Organizer is whitelisted):

  1. Navigate to Tournament > Settings > Game configuration.
  2. Ensure that you have the latest Game mode selected. (i.e., Game mode showing up as 5v5 instead of 5v5 (Legacy) )
  3. Enable the CSTV Playcast option to activate it. (see screenshot below)



 

Was this article helpful?