How to Watch FACEIT Demos: Online or in CS2

You just played a FACEIT match and want to review it — but it isn't in the CS2 Watch menu, and there's no obvious file on your PC. FACEIT demos work a little differently: you download a compressed .zst archive from the match room. Sign in to GetReplay with Steam or FACEIT to upload that archive without unpacking it, or extract the .dem if you want to watch it inside CS2.

Choose how to watch

• Watch in the browser (2D)
• Watch in CS2 (player view)

Download the demo from the FACEIT match room

Open the match on faceit.com (or the FACEIT app), go to the match room, and click Watch Demo near the top of the page to download the demo file.

Watch it online: upload the .zst archive directly

GetReplay accepts the compressed .zst archive exactly as FACEIT downloads it. Open the replay page, sign in with Steam or FACEIT, and upload the file. You do not need to unpack the archive first.

Once it is processed, you can scrub round by round, review duels and positions, and jump to the moments that matter in a browser-based 2D replay on any device.

Open your CS2 demo

Upload a match to review rounds, positions and duels in a 2D browser replay.

1. 1Sign in with Steam or FACEIT
2. 2Choose a demo file
3. 3Open the processed match

Sign in with Steam or FACEITTry the example match

.dem, .zst, .gz, .bz2 or .zip. Upload compressed demos as they are.

Watch in CS2 instead

Sign in first, then choose your file here. Steam match-history setup is not required for a manual upload.

Want to try it first? Open the example match to see the 2D replay and match stats before uploading your own. And if you're wondering why bother reviewing at all, start with what you get from watching your own demos.

Watch it in CS2: extract the .dem

Only unpack the download if you want to play it inside CS2. FACEIT currently provides a .dem.zst (or .zst) archive rather than a ready-to-use .dem:

Unpack .zst to .dem for CS2

Choose your FACEIT archive to unpack it on this device. The file is not uploaded and no sign-in is needed. GetReplay already accepts .zst directly for online viewing.

FACEIT archive (.zst)

When supported, your browser asks where to save the .dem and writes it directly to disk (up to 8 GB).

Unpack .zst

You can also unpack the archive with a desktop app:

1. Right-click the downloaded archive and open it with a current version of 7-Zip or WinRAR.
2. Extract the .dem inside to …\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo.
3. Rename it to something short, enable the developer console, and press ~.
4. Type playdemo your-demo-name, then press Shift+F2 for playback controls.

For the full walkthrough — file locations, controls, and fixes — see how to watch a CS2 demo.

Fix common FACEIT demo problems

• No "Watch Demo" button — check the match date and make sure the match has finished. Older demos may have expired; for a recent match, try again later or contact FACEIT support.
• You downloaded a file you can't open — the .zst archive is expected. Upload it directly to GetReplay, or extract the .dem only if you want to use playdemo.
• playdemo won't play it — CS2 cannot play the .zst archive itself. Extract the .dem, check the developer console is on, and make sure the command matches the extracted file name.

FAQ

Where do I download a FACEIT demo? From the match room on faceit.com — click Watch Demo at the top of the match page. The match must be recent (about 30 days or newer).

How do I open a FACEIT .zst file? Sign in to GetReplay with Steam or FACEIT, then upload the .zst without unpacking it. To watch it in CS2 instead, extract the .dem with a current version of 7-Zip or WinRAR, then play that file.

Can I watch a FACEIT demo online in the browser? Yes — sign in to GetReplay with Steam or FACEIT, then upload the downloaded .zst archive. You can watch the 2D replay in your browser after processing; no unpacking is required.

How long are FACEIT demos available? About 30 days. Download and back up any match you want to keep before it expires.

Official FACEIT download guide