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A New Counter-Strike 2 Update Introduced an Invite-Only VACNet Labeling Portal

The portal is publicly visible, but only invited reviewers can log in to label Counter-Strike match clips with audio.

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A New Counter-Strike 2 Update Introduced an Invite-Only VACNet Labeling Portal

A new Counter-Strike 2 update introduced a dedicated VACNet Labeling Portal, though access to its participation tools is restricted to invited users.

Anyone can visit the VACNet portal, but the page does not offer an open registration option. Instead, it tells visitors that they can log in only if they have received an invitation to participate.

A screenshot shared in a Reddit post shows the portal’s message, confirming that the site is currently functioning as an invite-only entry point rather than a public tool.

Counter-Strike 2 VACNet Labeling Portal page showing that participation requires an invitation

The update does not provide a public explanation of how invitations are distributed, but the first ones are now reaching players. Those with access should see an Overwatch review option when checking Counter-Strike 2 in-game, directing selected users to the VACNet Labeling Portal.

Each assignment presents gameplay clips with audio, followed by questions asking the reviewer to assess what happened. Screenshots of the portal’s welcome screen and instructions show how the review process is presented to new participants.

Some players are getting access to the VACNet Labeling portal!

Looks like instead of directly affecting the verdict, reviewers are helping train future VACNet models.

Also, Valve explicitly asks players not to stream, record, or share any clips from the portal. https://t.co/KIuPJApHWI pic.twitter.com/eLKCkIbNw4

— aqua (@aquaismissing) August 11, 2026

A reviewer’s verdict will not directly affect the player shown in the clip. Instead, the labels may be used to train future VACNet models, making the task closer to data labeling for the anti-cheat system than an immediate ban decision.

Reviewers are told that choosing Uncertain is both acceptable and expected. They should only select another answer when they feel certain about their judgment. The portal also asks participants not to stream, record, or share the clips, since public footage could help malicious players understand how to hide suspicious behavior.

Have you received an invitation to the VACNet portal, or did you discover the page while checking the update? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

Counter-Strike 2 is a free-to-play multiplayer tactical first-person shooter developed and published by Valve. Released in September 2023, it is the fifth main entry in the Counter-Strike series and serves as a direct replacement for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Steam. Two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, compete in objective-based rounds across modes such as bomb defusal and hostage rescue. Built on the Source 2 engine, the game introduced volumetric smoke physics, revised weapon handling, and a new sub-tick server architecture. It inherited all cosmetic items from its predecessor and features both a map-specific Competitive mode and a numerically ranked Premier mode.