Crossfire

Q: How does the Elo system work?

Crossfire uses a scaled Elo formula (divisor 4000) with mode-specific K-factors (K=320 for 5v5, K=160 for Wingman). Your rating starts at 10,000 and updates after every match. Typically you gain or lose around ±160 Elo in 5v5 and ±80 in Wingman, depending on team average and individual Elo.

Q: What anti-cheat does Crossfire use?

Crossfire Guard is a client-side anti-cheat combined with server-side behavioral analysis and community reporting. It runs only during matches to protect competitive integrity.

Q: Where are the servers located?

All game servers are hosted in Germany (Hetzner, Frankfurt and Nuernberg) for low latency across Europe.

Getting Started

What is Crossfire?: Crossfire is a competitive CS:GO matchmaking platform with Elo-based ranking, anti-cheat protection, custom skin loadouts, and dedicated EU servers. It's built for players who want fair, serious competitive matches.
Is Crossfire free?: Yes. Competitive matchmaking (5v5, Wingman, Deathmatch) is completely free. Optional premium membership unlocks cosmetic perks like priority queues and exclusive loadout options, but the core competitive experience is free.
How do I sign up?: Click "Sign in with Steam" on any page. No separate account creation, no email verification. Your Steam account is your Crossfire account. You can start playing within seconds.
Do I need to install anything?: Yes — Crossfire Guard (our anti-cheat client) is required for competitive queue participation. It runs alongside CS:GO during matches.
Is Crossfire for CS:GO or CS2?: Crossfire is specifically for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), not CS2. It's designed for players who prefer CS:GO's gameplay and mechanics.

Matchmaking & Elo

How does the Elo system work?: Crossfire uses a standard Elo formula with mode-specific K-factors (K=320 for 5v5, K=160 for Wingman). Your rating starts at 10,000 and updates after every match based on the result and opponent strength. Typically you gain or lose around ±160 Elo in 5v5 and ±80 in Wingman, depending on the team and individual Elo difference. Full Elo documentation →
Can I see my exact Elo number?: Yes. Unlike Valve's hidden ranking, Crossfire shows your precise Elo rating, the exact change after each match, and your position on the live leaderboard.
Does Wingman affect my Elo differently than 5v5?: Wingman and 5v5 share the same Elo rating, but Wingman uses a lower K-factor (160 vs 320) so each match has less impact — typically around ±80 Elo compared to ±160 in 5v5.
Does Deathmatch affect my Elo?: No. Deathmatch is unranked and has no impact on your Elo.
How are teams balanced?: The matchmaker finds players in a similar Elo range and creates two teams with the closest possible average Elo. Party compositions are accounted for.
Is there Elo decay for inactivity?: Currently, no. Your rating stays unchanged regardless of how long you've been away.

Game Modes

What game modes are available?

5v5 Competitive — Full team matchmaking with Elo tracking and map voting.
Wingman (2v2) — Ranked duo matches with shared Elo (~±80 per match).
Deathmatch — Free-for-all warmup. No queue, no Elo.

Can I play with friends?

Yes. Create a party and invite friends before queuing. Parties of up to 5 players for 5v5 and up to 2 for Wingman. The matchmaker accounts for party composition when balancing teams.

How does map voting work?

After a match is found, both teams have 30 seconds to vote on the map from the active pool. The map with the most votes is selected. In case of a tie, one is chosen randomly.

Anti-Cheat & Fair Play

What anti-cheat does Crossfire use?: Crossfire Guard — a client-side anti-cheat combined with server-side behavioral analysis and community reporting. It runs only during matches.
Can I play if I have a VAC ban?: Players with CS:GO VAC bans may be restricted from competitive queues. VAC bans on other games do not affect your Crossfire access.
How do I report a cheater?: Use the report function in the match interface or post-match summary. Reports are reviewed by platform staff.

Skin Loadouts

How do skin loadouts work?: Crossfire has a built-in loadout system where you can equip weapon skins, knives, gloves, agents, and music kits. Your loadout is synced directly to the game server when you join a match — no need to own the skins on Steam.
Are loadouts free?: Basic weapon preferences are free. Full skin customization (knives, gloves, agents, music kits) is available with premium membership.

Premium & Membership

Is premium required to play competitively?: No. All competitive modes (5v5, Wingman, Deathmatch) are free. Premium membership provides cosmetic perks and convenience features, not competitive advantages.
What does premium include?: Priority queue, exclusive loadout options (full skin customization), rank badges, and platform support. View membership details →

Technical

Where are the servers located?: All game servers are hosted in Germany (Hetzner, Frankfurt/Nürnberg) for low latency across Europe.
What server tick rate do you use?: Dedicated servers with competitive configuration and automated RCON handoff via MatchZy.
How do I connect to a match server?: After a match is found and the map is voted, the server is automatically configured. Connection details appear in the play interface — click to connect directly.

Frequently Asked Questions