The opening day of the StarLadder Counter-Strike 2 Budapest Major 2025 was marred by widespread broadcast problems, as viewers across platforms reported missing or mismatched audio, long downtime, and inconsistent feeds.

From the outset of the Budapest Major, the main broadcast feeds on YouTube and Twitch experienced significant audio issues. During the opening pre-show desk segment, analysts spoke on screen, but for many viewers, only background music played.

In several matches, including the one between M80 and B8, the caster audio was inaudible for extended periods. Some viewers noted the Kick stream appeared to avoid these specific issues entirely.

The situation worsened when the match between FaZe Clan and Lynn Vision was interrupted by a prolonged outage. The broadcast went offline for nearly two hours, with a “be right back” screen replacing it. Subsequent matches also faced delays as a result, and the audio issues persisted.

StarLadder Apology Over Budapest Major Tech Issues

After the day finished, StarLadder issued a statement about the problems that had plagued the viewing experience so far. It said: “We know we fell short today, and it impacted your experience. We’re working hard on fixing the stream, audio, and stability issues.

“Sorry for letting you down – we’re making things right and improving for the next days.”

As the event continues, the spotlight now rests on the production team to turn things around. After such a rocky start, thousands of viewers and teams will be watching to see whether StarLadder can stabilise the broadcast quality and deliver the level of production expected for a Major.

After all, it’s only the most prestigious event in the Counter-Strike calendar.

Day 1 did see some good matches, however, with teams like Flyquest, NRG, and M80 rising to 2-0, and an upcoming juggernaut matchup between NiP and FaZe Clan to look forward to.