Workshop & 1v1 Maps

SweatHost competitive matches accept Steam Workshop maps in addition to stock CS2 maps. This is the canonical path for running 1v1 / AWP / aim / retake / arena matches against community-built layouts that aren't shipped with CS2.

There is one endpoint for all of this — the same POST /api/v1/matches you already use. You change the map and the match-level cvars; the server orchestration is identical.

How to specify a workshop map

In gameSettings.map (single map) or gameSettings.maps[] (BO3 / BO5 / map pool), pass the Steam Workshop PublishedFileId as a numeric string:

The runtime detects "is this string all digits?" — if yes, it's treated as a workshop ID and downloaded from Steam; otherwise it's a stock map name. Mixing the two in a single match is fine:

"maps": ["de_mirage", "3070253400", "de_anubis"]

First allocation downloads from Steam, subsequent ones hit cache

The first time a workshop ID is allocated in a region, the dedicated server downloads the map from Steam (typically 5–30 seconds for ~25–80 MB; up to ~30 seconds for 300 MB+ maps like Pool Day). Downloaded files cache to the region's shared EFS volume, so every subsequent allocation in that same region loads instantly. There is no extra setup needed — caching is automatic.

For a fully warm experience across multiple regions, you can pre-cache a whole workshop collection at fleet boot — see Pre-caching workshop collections below.

Endpoint

POST /api/v1/matches
Authorization: Bearer <api_key>
Content-Type: application/json

This is the same endpoint as for stock-map matches — see POST /matches for the full schema. The fields below are the ones most relevant to 1v1 / workshop play.

Request body

{
  "region": "us-west-1",
  "gameType": "cs2",
  "externalMatchId": "awp-india-test-1",
  "callbackUrl": "https://your.app/webhooks/match",
  "gameSettings": {
    "matchType": "competitive",
    "map": "3070290869",
    "maps": ["3070290869"],
    "seriesFormat": "bo1",
    "teams": {
      "team1": { "name": "Ali",    "players": ["76561198746925959"] },
      "team2": { "name": "shyice", "players": ["76561198271164751"] }
    },
    "freezeTime": 3,
    "maxRounds": 16,
    "customCvars": "mp_roundtime 1.5\nmp_buy_anywhere 1\n"
  }
}

Field reference (gameSettings)

Per-map configuration

Different workshop maps want different rules. Some are pure layouts that need server-side cvars to enforce gameplay (no buy, AWP loadout, short rounds); others embed their own loadout entities and just need to be loaded. Use customCvars to push per-match overrides without having to ship a new game mode.

Common 1v1 ruleset

Drop this into customCvars for AWP-only / aim 1v1 against bare-layout maps that don't enforce loadout themselves:

mp_freezetime 2
mp_round_restart_delay 1
mp_buytime 0
mp_buy_anywhere 0
mp_startmoney 0
mp_maxmoney 0
mp_afterroundmoney 0
mp_death_drop_gun 0
mp_solid_teammates 0
mp_friendlyfire 1
mp_t_default_primary weapon_awp
mp_ct_default_primary weapon_awp
mp_t_default_secondary weapon_deagle
mp_ct_default_secondary weapon_deagle

For a rifle/aim loadout, swap the two *_default_primary lines:

mp_t_default_primary weapon_ak47
mp_ct_default_primary weapon_m4a4

Reference IDs for popular 1v1 maps

Verify each ID is still listed on the workshop before pinning into your client — Steam delists items occasionally.

Examples

Single 1v1 — awp_india with AWP-only loadout

{
  "region": "us-west-1",
  "gameType": "cs2",
  "externalMatchId": "awp-india-1v1",
  "gameSettings": {
    "matchType": "competitive",
    "map": "3070290869",
    "seriesFormat": "bo1",
    "teams": {
      "team1": { "name": "P1", "players": ["76561198000000001"] },
      "team2": { "name": "P2", "players": ["76561198000000002"] }
    },
    "freezeTime": 2,
    "maxRounds": 16,
    "customCvars": "mp_buytime 0\nmp_buy_anywhere 0\nmp_startmoney 0\nmp_t_default_primary weapon_awp\nmp_ct_default_primary weapon_awp\nmp_t_default_secondary weapon_deagle\nmp_ct_default_secondary weapon_deagle"
  }
}

crashz Dust 1v1 — let the map handle loadout

{
  "region": "us-west-1",
  "gameType": "cs2",
  "externalMatchId": "crashz-1v1",
  "gameSettings": {
    "matchType": "competitive",
    "map": "3087910523",
    "seriesFormat": "bo1",
    "teams": {
      "team1": { "name": "P1", "players": ["76561198000000001"] },
      "team2": { "name": "P2", "players": ["76561198000000002"] }
    },
    "freezeTime": 3,
    "maxRounds": 16
  }
}

Mixed BO3 — stock + workshop

{
  "region": "us-west-1",
  "gameType": "cs2",
  "gameSettings": {
    "matchType": "competitive",
    "map": "de_mirage",
    "maps": ["de_mirage", "3070253400", "de_anubis"],
    "seriesFormat": "bo3",
    "teams": { "team1": { "players": ["..."] }, "team2": { "players": ["..."] } }
  }
}

Pre-caching workshop collections

If you run a fixed set of workshop maps and want to skip the first-allocation download cost in every region, you can preload them at warm-pool boot. Build a Steam Workshop collection containing your IDs, then set +host_workshop_collection <collection_id> in the relevant fleet's CS2_LAUNCH_ARGS env. Every fresh pod downloads the entire collection on boot to its region's EFS; subsequent allocations of any map in the collection are instant.

Drawback: collection downloads run once per pod recycle, so frequent CS2 patches × large collections × many regions is a bandwidth cost. For curated 1v1 collections (~6 maps, ~700 MB total), this is negligible.

Connection flow

Once the match is created:

1. The response contains the connect URL ({ ip, port, connectUrl }).
2. The configured roster has 5 minutes from match creation to at least one player connecting, otherwise the match auto-cancels with reason: "incomplete_roster" (see match webhooks).
3. Workshop maps require the CS2 client to also have the same workshop file. If a connecting client has a stale or missing copy, CS2 shows "client out of date" — the player must subscribe + redownload via Steam to fix it. This is independent of SweatHost.

Troubleshooting

See also

• Match endpoints overview
• Webhook callbacks (match_over, match_canceled)
• SDK equivalents