Rulebook

Official Frostbyte Network player rules and conduct guidelines.

FROSTBYTE

NETWORK

────────────────────────

CS2 Competitive Platform

Official Player Rulebook — 2026

queue.frostbytenetworks.co.za

A ABOUT FROSTBYTE NETWORK

Frostbyte Network is an independent CS2 competitive PUG platform built for South African players. The platform handles matchmaking, ratings, match history, and leaderboards entirely in-house at queue.frostbytenetworks.co.za. It has no affiliation with any third-party gaming service.

Every player who signs in agrees to the rules in this document. These rules apply to all activity on the platform — in-game, in the match room, and in the platform chat.

A.1 Signing In

There is no account creation process. Access to Frostbyte Network is granted entirely through Steam:

Visit queue.frostbytenetworks.co.za in any browser.
Click Login with Steam and complete the Steam authentication prompt.
Your Steam identity becomes your Frostbyte Network profile automatically.
Navigate to the Queue page and join the matchmaking pool.

NOTE One Steam account per player. Using a secondary Steam account is treated as smurfing and is subject to the penalties in Section G.

A.2 Platform Pages

The platform provides four main pages:

Queue — Join the matchmaking pool. Requires a Steam login.
Matches — View recent match results and player performance for the ZA-JHB region.
Leaderboard — View the current ZA-JHB ranked standings (Rating, W/L, K/D, Matches).
Chat — A global community channel for all logged-in players.

The Chat page is governed by the same conduct standards as in-game behaviour. English must be used. Spam, abuse, and personal attacks will be penalised.

B MATCHMAKING

Matches are formed automatically once ten players have joined the queue. The platform assigns teams through a captain-draft system and hosts the game on the ZA-JHB server.

B.1 Server Region

All Frostbyte Network matches are hosted on a single server region:

ZA-JHB — Johannesburg, South Africa

Players are expected to have a stable connection to this server before queuing. Players whose connections persistently disrupt matches may be suspended regardless of their location.

B.2 Map Veto(Subject to change)

The current active map pool is:

Ancient
Anubis
Inferno
Mirage
Nuke
Overpass
Vertigo

C MATCH RULES

C.1 Game Format

All matches use the following configuration:

Ruleset: Standard CS2 competitive settings
Format: MR12 — first team to 13 round wins takes the map
Friendly fire: Disabled
Knife round: Enabled. The winning team chooses their starting side

C.2 Timeouts

Each team receives four (2 per side) tactical timeouts of thirty (30) seconds per map. These are called through the in-game vote menu: ESC → Call Vote → Call Tactical Timeout.

Technical pauses are separate from tactical timeouts and are used only when contacting an admin is necessary. They are initiated with the !technical command in match chat. Total technical pause time per team per map may not exceed five (5) minutes. Tactical timeouts and technical pauses are not interchangeable.

IMPORTANT The !technical command is strictly for admin contact and genuine technical problems.

C.3 Overtime

If a match is tied after 24 rounds, overtime begins automatically. Overtime settings:

Starting money: $10,000 per player
Format: MR3 — first team to 4 round wins takes the overtime period
A 3–3 tie triggers a side swap and another overtime period immediately
Overtime repeats until a winner is found. Draws are not possible
Each team receives one (1) fresh tactical timeout per overtime period. Unused timeouts from regulation or prior overtime periods do not carry over

C.4 In-Game Communication

All communication during matches takes place through CS2's built-in voice and text systems. There is no external voice platform requirement, but if players on any team want to join rooms will be provided in the Frostbyte Discord.

Players are expected to make the minimum necessary callouts to function as a team. This means communicating enemy positions, utility usage, and site information in a concise and useful way. You do not need to be constantly talking — but you do need to contribute enough for your team to play effectively.

The following in-game communication conduct applies:

English must be used in all voice and text communication during a match.
Microphone spam — holding the mic open, playing music, or making sustained noise — is prohibited.
Text chat must not be used for spam, abuse, or anything unrelated to the match.

NOTE Communication is about quality, not quantity. Making the calls your team needs is a conduct obligation — but there is no requirement to be on the mic constantly.

D MATCH CANCELLATION

Cancellations are granted only in the specific situations described below. They are never automatic and are always subject to admin judgement. Contacting an admin via the match room and using !pause are required steps in every cancellation procedure.

D.1 Server Problems

If the server itself is causing problems — high latency, extreme packet loss, or crashes affecting the majority of players — contact an admin immediately and use !pause.

Admins may request evidence before acting. Acceptable evidence includes in-game telemetry screenshots or video clips clearly showing the server as the cause.

Before round 10: Admin may cancel at their discretion.
Round 10 or later: Cancellation requires 3 of 5 players from each team to agree. Without that agreement, the match continues.

D.2 A Player Leaves Early

If a player disconnects during a match, their team should use !pause and contact an admin without delay.

Before round 8 — the leaving player is given up to 5 minutes to return. If they do not return, the match is cancelled and the player receives a leaver penalty.

Round 8 or later — cancellation requires the opposing team to agree by a 3 of 5 majority. If they do not agree, the match plays on. Either way, the leaving player receives a leaver penalty, unless an admin has stated otherwise.

D.3 Multiple Players Leave

Multiple leavers from the same team (round 8 or later): Admin is contacted and !pause is used. Players have 5 minutes to return. If they do not return, the opposing team is awarded a 1-0 win and all absent players receive leaver bans.

Multiple leavers from both teams (round 8 or later): Same 5-minute window applies. If players do not return, the match is cancelled. All absent players lose the full rating value for a loss and receive leaver bans.

D.4 Individual Connection Issues

Connection problems affecting a single player — high ping, choke, or packet loss — that cannot be confirmed as a server issue are handled as follows:

Contact an admin and use !technical before any rounds have been completed.
If the issue is resolved, a rehost may be granted. Team and map selections stay the same.
If 8 or more rounds are complete, a rehost requires a 3 of 5 majority agreement from both teams.

Individual connection cancellations are never guaranteed and rest entirely with the responding admin.

D.5 Admin Discretion

An admin may cancel or rehost a match between rounds 8 and 10 at their own discretion. If the score difference is 4 or more rounds, at least 3 players from the leading team must individually confirm agreement in the match room before the admin can proceed.

A senior admin may cancel a match at any stage if it is determined that a Major Disruption is occurring — defined as anything rendering the game unplayable for one or both teams. This determination is made case-by-case and is not subject to player vote.

E CONDUCT

Frostbyte Network expects competitive play and basic respect. The rules below apply to all interactions on the platform — in-game, in the match room, and in the platform chat. Penalties scale with severity and repetition.

E.1 Playing to Win

Every player in every match is expected to make a genuine effort to compete. The following are breaches of this obligation:

Going AFK at round start or remaining AFK for extended periods
Consistently force-buying against team economy with no tactical reason
Refusing to take part in team play and isolating yourself from the game
Deliberately underperforming to lose — whether to drop rating, manipulate leaderboard position, or for any other reason

E.2 Technical Pause Abuse

The !pause command exists for contacting admins and handling genuine technical issues. It may not be used for anything else. The following are prohibited:

Using !technical as a tactical timeout (use the in-game vote system instead)
Pausing for personal breaks
Unpausing the opposing team's active pause
Unpausing while a player or admin is mid-communication

Players found to be misusing !technical will receive a Technical Pause Abuse cooldown of 24 hours minimum.

E.3 Griefing & Friendly Fire

Actions that deliberately harm your own team are prohibited. This covers:

Intentional team damage or team killing — including in retaliation for another player's actions
Intentionally blocking teammate movement
Intentionally team-flashing
Taking dropped weapons without any intent to use them tactically

Confirmed intentional team damage carries a minimum 24-hour queue cooldown. Repeated offences will result in longer suspensions or permanent removal.

E.4 Throwing

Deliberate attempts to lose rounds or matches are a serious violation. Examples include:

Making no meaningful attempt to engage enemies when able to do so
Exposing the bomb location, team positions, or equipment to the enemy
Consistently buying the weakest weapons available with no tactical justification

E.5 Toxicity & Abusive Behaviour

The following are not tolerated on Frostbyte Network, in any channel or medium:

Abusive language, threats, or personal attacks directed at any player
Targeted harassment of a specific individual across multiple interactions
Sharing another player's personal information without their consent
Threats of physical harm or instructions to another person to harm themselves

Threats of violence or self-harm result in immediate permanent removal with no appeal.

E.6 Discriminatory Content

Language, imagery, or conduct that targets a person based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability is prohibited across all Frostbyte Network platforms. Violations will result in extended bans.

NOTE This applies to Steam profile imagery as well as in-game and platform content. Players displaying prohibited imagery will be asked to remove it and may receive additional penalties.

E.7 Intoxication

If a player is visibly intoxicated and this demonstrably affects their performance or the experience of other players, a minimum 48-hour ban will be issued.

F FAIR PLAY & TECHNICAL INTEGRITY

F.1 Cheating

The use of any software or method that provides an unfair advantage is permanently banned. This includes:

Wallhacks, radar hacks, ESP overlays of any kind
Aimbots, triggerbots, silent aim, and recoil compensation tools
Mobility hacks or any other performance-enhancing modification

Players confirmed to be cheating are permanently removed from the platform with no right of appeal.

F.2 Scripts & Automation

The following scripts and macros are prohibited:

Bunnyhop automation
Accuracy or burst-fire scripts
Anti-recoil scripts or macros
In-match name-change scripting
Offensive text binds

The following are explicitly permitted:

Buy binds
Non-offensive text binds

F.3 Map Exploits

Exploiting unintended geometry or game mechanics is prohibited. This covers pixel walking, transparent textures, undefusable bomb plants, spawn bugs, and flash bugs. If you discover a potential exploit during a match, report it to an admin rather than using it. Good-faith reports carry no penalty.

F.4 Streaming

Streaming Frostbyte Network matches is permitted. A minimum 60-second delay is strongly recommended. Players who stream without a delay do so at their own risk and may not cite the absence of a delay as grounds for any complaint or cancellation request.

Watching an opposing player's live stream to gain positional information is strictly prohibited. Players found to be stream sniping will receive a minimum 2-day ban. Reports must include specific, time-stamped evidence.

G ACCOUNTS & ELIGIBILITY

G.1 One Account Per Player

Each person may only participate through a single Steam account. Using a second Steam account to queue is prohibited under any circumstance, including:

Avoiding an active ban or suspension
Playing at a lower rating tier to gain an advantage or win prizes
Any other attempt to gain an unfair benefit

Secondary profiles will be permanently removed. The player's primary account will receive a minimum 3-day ban. No refunds are issued for secondary profiles.

G.2 Eligibility by Location

Frostbyte Network serves the Southern African region. Players must reside in one of the following countries:

South Africa
Kenya
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Mozambique
Zambia
Mauritius
Angola
Namibia
Reunion Island
Uganda

Players found to be connecting from ineligible regions, or using a VPN to mask their location, will be removed from the platform immediately. Frostbyte Network reserves the right to remove any player whose connection quality consistently disrupts matches for other players, even within eligible regions.

G.3 Steam Account Security

Your Steam account is your Frostbyte Network identity. Protect it. Enable Steam Guard and two-factor authentication. If you lose access to your Steam account, resolve it through Steam Support directly — Frostbyte Network cannot transfer, recover, or reassign profiles. Do not create a new Steam account to continue playing.

H QUEUE BEHAVIOUR & COOLDOWNS

The following automatic cooldowns apply for match-related violations:

Failed to accept: 5-minute cooldown.
Did not connect: 30-Minute cooldown. Player failed to join the server within the 3-minute connection window.
Leaver: 6-hour cooldown. Player disconnected and did not rejoin within 5 minutes.
Game dodging: Minimum 7-day ban. Deliberately avoiding a queued match for any reason.
Pause abuse: 24-hour cooldown minimum.
Friendly fire: 24-hour cooldown minimum. Escalates with repetition.

IMPORTANT Do not leave the server before you are automatically disconnected, even if you expect the match to be cancelled. You will receive a Did Not Reconnect cooldown that will not be removed.

Cooldown removal is not guaranteed. The following conditions may support a removal request:

Did not connect cooldowns: a confirmed platform outage, Steam outage, or CS2 update that prevented connection.
Leaver cooldowns: the player rejoined and completed the match (verifiable in match data), or an ISP/power outage can be documented.

I RATINGS, SEASONS & PRIZES

I.1 Rating System

Your Frostbyte Network Rating is used for matchmaking and leaderboard placement. It adjusts after every match based on the result and the relative ratings of both teams. New players will not appear on the leaderboard until they have completed their first match.

The leaderboard tracks: Rating, Win/Loss record, Kill/Death ratio, and total Matches played. These update in real time after each match concludes.

I.2 Season Structure

Each season runs for one calendar month. The end date and time for the current season — displayed in your local timezone — can be found on the Leaderboard page at queue.frostbytenetworks.co.za/leaderboard.

At the end of each season, leaderboard standings are finalised, prizes are distributed where applicable, and ratings are partially reset for the new season.

I.3 Prize Eligibility

To be eligible for prizes at the end of a season:

You must not be serving an active ban at the time of distribution.
You must not have violated the throwing or smurfing rules during the season.
Prize claims must be submitted within 14 days of the season ending. Unclaimed prizes lapse.

J REPORTS, APPEALS & ADMIN

J.1 Reporting Players

Reports are submitted via the official Frostbyte Network Discord server. Every report must include supporting evidence — reports submitted without evidence are closed without action.

When submitting a report, include:

The offending player's Steam display name
The match date/time or match identifier
The approximate round(s) in which the incident occurred
Video clips, screenshots, or other evidence

Recording tools such as NVIDIA Instant Replay, Medal.tv, OBS, or Streamlabs are recommended for capturing incidents as they occur. You do not need to record entire matches.

J.2 Support

For any support enquiries, open a ticket in the Frostbyte Network Discord. Response times vary with admin availability. Do not tag individual admins directly or submit duplicate tickets for the same issue. Abusive or repeated support requests will result in a penalty.

────────────────────────

These rules may be updated at any time. Changes will be communicated via the Frostbyte Network Discord.

Continued participation after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised rules.