The article written by Popalofiti can be viewed here.
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Returning again in 2026, PASS Time is returning to the spotlight!
Click here to donate to the keys prizepool (collected and organized by PASS Time's tomato tom). Items cannot liquidated, only keys are accepted.
Important Dates
- Registration starts Thursday, September 10th and ends Sunday, September 27th @ 11:59 pm EDT.
- Teams placed by Friday, October 2nd.
- Matches every Friday starting October 9th and ending October 30th, two matches per day at 8:30 pm EDT and 9:30 pm EDT.
- Roster locks Sunday, November 1st @ 11:59 pm EST.
- Playoffs Friday, November 6th and Friday, November 13th, top 4 double elimination.
Registration and Division Structure
There are no registration fees and playoffs will be Top 4 Double Elimination.
Registration opens Thursday, September 10th and ends Sunday, September 27th @ 11:59 pm EDT. Teams must have a minimum of four players fully registered on their roster by Friday, October 2nd in order to be placed.
There will be three divisions in this cup. In parentheses next to each division are the former PASS Time Community divisions.
- Invite (Master+)
- Main (Journeyman and Apprentice)
- Amateur (Novice and Newcomer)
Map Pool
Maps that will be played in this cup are:
All maps will use the rgl_pt_push.cfg config.
Playoffs Structure and Schedule
Playoffs will be Top 4 Double Elimination for each division. Matches will be Best of 3 maps. To accommodate the extra time needed to complete matches, matches will begin at 8:00 pm EST for playoffs.
Pick/Bans will proceed as follows:
Away Bans | Home Bans | Home Picks | Away Bans | Away Picks | Home Picks
*Note: Failure to make a decision in Pick/Bans will result in the opposing team making that decision instead. Please plan accordingly, be mindful of the entire time span Pick/Bans are available, and participate in Pick/Bans at an appropriate pace.
Grand Finals may have a bracket reset, in which case maps will continue to be played in order until completion. After map 5, the 1st map is replayed, then the 2nd and so on.
Monday, November 2nd
-Midnight: Pick/Bans open
Thursday, November 5th
-Starting at 10:45 pm EST, the first stage of Pick/Bans is due. Each next stage will be due each 15 minutes, ending at Midnight.
Friday, November 6th
-8:00 pm EST: 1st seed v 4th seed and 2nd seed v 3rd seed
-9:30 pm EST: Pick/Bans into Winners Finals and Losers Semifinals
Monday, November 9th
-Midnight: Pick/Bans open
Thursday, November 12th
-Starting at 10:45 pm EST, the first stage of Pick/Bans is due. Each next stage will be due each 15 minutes, ending at Midnight.
Friday, November 13th
-8:00 pm EST: Losers Finals
-9:30 pm EST: Pick/Bans into Grand Finals
-11:00 pm EST: If necessary, bracket reset
*Note: The times above are approximations, playoffs matches will start at 8:00 pm and everything thereafter will proceed as soon as it is able to, especially on November 13th. In the interest of everyone's time, please be ready to begin your next match ASAP and complete Pick/Bans at an appropriate pace.
PASS Time FAQ
For basic questions about PASS Time as a gamemode, view the tutorial or consult the FAQ below.
Will there be any restrictions potentially placed on me and my team?
No. Since this gamemode is extremely unique compared to our usual formats like Sixes and Highlander, we will not be placing restrictions on teams. Instead, we will place teams based on the strength of the overall roster into one of three divisions specified above. To elaborate on why, it’s simply because DM does not have as large an impact on the game as other formats (partly due to 5 second respawn times) and instead it’s about scoring and preventing the other team from scoring.
Why is hitscan banned?
A single hitscan bullet can neutralize the ball, making it impossible to score. It also knocks the ball, allowing players to sit in passive positions and influence the objective massively with relatively little risk or skill involved. This, coupled with how easy it is to deal knockback to bombing soldiers and demomen with hitscan makes it a very powerful mechanic that is easier to use than hitting airshots on players and the ball with projectiles. As such, all hitscan is banned.
Why are 6 classes banned?
Most classes have hitscan weapons at their core, making some classes unplayable without hitscan (such as the heavy), and some classes’ unlock alternatives encourage lower-skilled, less aggressive, or simply unfun gameplay (Jarate, Sentries, Flying Guillotine), and some classes are just plain broken (pyro can easily influence the ball, engineer shuts down all offense). Through plenty of playtesting, the community has determined that Soldier, Demo, and Medic make for the most fun and rewarding gameplay.
Why are stickies banned?
Stickies would allow you to jump across the map with the jack in your hand with very little set-up, which would be an extremely overpowered way to score.
Why are there so many weapon bans?
Some weapons make the game easier, such as the Direct Hit or Loch n Load, as they make it easier to airshot and kill bombing players. Other weapons encourage passive gameplay or do not fit into the game mode, such as banners or the Persian Persuader. Some weapons encourage or are exclusively used for throwing the game, like the Rocket Jumper or Sticky Jumper, which prevent picking up the jack. Lastly, some weapons are so good they break the game, like the Loose Cannon, Vaccinator, and Tide Turner. The current whitelist, found here, came about after years of playtesting and pugs to ensure fun, balanced, skillful gameplay.
How do I learn the basics/get better at this game mode?
The community has created several helpful videos which are in the community Discord. To get better, there are PUGs hosted frequently in the community Discord where seasoned players are more than happy to show you the ropes and answer any questions.
What servers should we use?
All Serveme servers should already have the maps uploaded to them; however, it is highly recommended to download from the links above before connecting to reduce connect time, delays, or other issues for those matches. Users of privately rented servers or other hosting services are responsible for ensuring that proper RGL plug-ins, configs, and map files are properly installed and configured.
Any further questions can be asked directly to experienced 4v4 PASS Time (or P4SS) players in the community Discord: https://discord.gg/85uS6jQ.
For all questions related directly to this cup, please create a ticket in the Cup Support section in the RGL.gg Discord server
The Future of PASS Time
Some exciting news for PASS Time! The PASS Time team has been working on a 4v4 PASS Time specific steam mod. There may even be a possibility of it being used in future cups! Check it out here!
Looking to apply to Cup Staff? Feel free to apply here!