Valve dropped a major bombshell today by updating their Major Supplemental Rulebook with strict new restrictions. Teams are now barred from switching regions within three months of a Major, and this rule takes effect immediately according to Valve's confirmation to HLTV.
The sudden policy shift directly impacts BC.Game, Sashi, and WW, effectively blocking their path to the PGL Singapore Major. These three squads now face direct disqualification from the Major qualification process unless they "reach out and find a solution" with Valve.
This aggressive intervention marks unusual territory for Valve, who typically maintains a hands-off stance during Major qualifications. Rarely does the developer step in mid-process like this.
BIG co-founder Tom J. Lemke revealed on X that Valve specifically cited Sashi as the trigger for this emergency rule change. According to Lemke's direct conversation with Valve, the company had been monitoring questionable regional switching tactics, and Sashi's controversial move became the breaking point.
Yesterday, Sashi executed a calculated roster shuffle by signing Tynan "TjP" Purtell and Jordan "Hatz" Bajic on temporary deals. They also revealed that Anton "Anlelele" Huynh held Vietnamese citizenship rather than the Danish nationality he'd been listed under for years. These maneuvers transformed Sashi into an Asian-region team, positioning them to potentially claim one of five APAC Major spots.
The community reaction was swift and harsh, with many calling out the move as cynical exploitation that undermines legitimate Asian competitors. Valve's response makes their position crystal clear: Major qualification should reflect long-term regional commitment, not last-minute opportunism.
