The patience of CS fans has paid off: Valve has introduced Counter-Strike 2 as the Source 2 successor to CS:GO. Here is everything you need to know about it.
It’s finally here! After years of rumours and leaks, the cat is now officially out of the bag. CS:GO will be ported to Source 2 and will then operate under the new name Counter-Strike 2 from summer 2023. Here you can find everything you need to know about it.
After a few wild days with leaks and hints, Valve officially announced Counter-Strike 2 on 22 March. While it is “only” a Source 2 port of CS:GO, in addition the developer has added so many new features and improvements that the new name makes more than sense.
When will Counter-Strike 2 be released?
There is no exact date yet. Valve has only mentioned the summer of 2023 as the time frame. However, CS2 is already playable as a Limited Test Beta for a select group.
How your chance of early beta access stands, we’ve explained here: Counter-Strike 2 – Here’s how you have a chance at the Limited Test Beta
If you already have CS:GO, you will then be able to simply download a patch that updates the game to Counter-Strike 2 for the release in the summer.
What new features does Counter-Strike 2 bring?
Valve has already announced some of the new features, but also said that they are not all new features yet.
Among other things, fans can look forward to:
- New interactive Smokes
- Map changes from refreshes to complete reworks
- New servers independent of tick rate
- Reworked sound effects
- Reworked graphic effects
- Improved user interface
- Source 2 tools for modders
- Numerous minor changes such as a grenade cam, better aiming crosses and much more
Valve has also already announced that more new features will be revealed gradually in the future.
What maps will there be in Counter-Strike 2?
So far there are no official announcements about the map pool that will be available. In the current Limited Test Beta there has been a lot of rotation so far.
Based on the trailer, we can assume the following maps in Counter-Strike 2.
- Dust 2
- Mirage
- Train
- Nuke
- Ancient
- Italy
- Overpass
- Inferno
- Baggage
- Shoots
- Office
- Canals
- Lake
- Shortdust
What will happen to the existing CS:GO skins?
Since Counter-Strike 2 will not be a completely new game, but an upgrade of CS:GO, the inventories with the players’ skins will remain safe. All cosmetic items will simply be transferred to Source 2 and Counter-Strike 2.
So I guess you don’t have to worry about what happens to your precious skins.
Instead, you can look forward to texture upgrades, even better looking skins, and a new collectible or two.
What are the system requirements for Counter-Strike 2?
Valve has not yet named any official requirements. However, based on the previous Source 2 games such as Dota 2 or Half-Life: Alyx, we can guess at the following system requirements.
Minimum requirements (based on Dota 2):
- Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Dual-Core Intel or AMD with 2.8 Ghz
- RAM: 4 GB
- Graphics card: DirectX 11 compatible card (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce 8600/9600GT or ATI/AMD Radeon HD2600/3600)
- Memory: 40-60 GB
Recommended requirements (based on Half-Life: Alyx):
- Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Core i5-7500/Ryzen 5 1600
- RAM: 12 GB
- Graphics card: GTX 1060 / RX 580 with 6GB VRAM
As soon as there are official requirements, we will of course update the above information
Update 16.08.2023
The latest update to Counter Strike 2 brings us map and smoke grenade changes and a leak on significant changes to the Ranked System.
After the update went live, Counter Strike leaker “Aquarius” posted information that the number of rounds in CS2 rated matchmaking would be adjusted from 30 rounds to 24 rounds. So in the future it would only be a “MR12” system.
Subtle, but significant matchmaking changes in the latest Counter-Strike 2 update:
– From now on Competitive is first to 13 rounds (including Premier).
– Seems like the devs are getting rid of Short Competitive
– Premier matches will have 20s freezetimes, 1 overtime (the game… pic.twitter.com/8iP6jb4tHO– Aquarius (@aquaismissing) August 16, 2023
It is not yet clear to what extent this change will come. It would be a big change in the rated mode and pro leagues after all these years if the MR15 were to give way.
Map rotation and smoke grenades
The Anubis and Ancient maps have been removed and Italy has taken their place in Counter Strike 2’s Deathmatch and Normal modes.
In addition, the new Smoke grenades have been adjusted. Their size has been reduced so as not to give too much of an advantage to players with the previous changes. It was oriented more towards the size of the Smokes from CSGO.
Today we’re shipping Italy into the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test. We’re also adjusting smoke sizes for gameplay, updating hostage models, and more. Full information in today’s Release Notes: https://t.co/Vl6NAy2Qed
– CS2 (@CounterStrike) August 15, 2023
