A recently discovered feature is currently making the CS community sit up and take notice. Will there soon be public viewing events in Counter-Strike 2?
A new feature is causing a furor within the CS community and may offer completely new possibilities in the future: Tracking live events in Counter-Strike 2 or more space for advertising in the game itself.
Watch parties in CS2?
The CS:GO mapper and modder @Angel_foxxo has made an interesting discovery in the code of Source 2. Apparently, with the new engine it is possible to insert a panorama UI into the maps, on which any videos can be played.
In CS2 mappers can use Panorama UI to play videos in-game, and do so much more… pic.twitter.com/O4zL1un77p
– Poggu (@poggu__) April 24, 2023
While the discoverer of the new feature himself didn’t write anything about it on Twitter, user @Poggu posted a short clip showing how in the middle of the T-Spawn
on Dust2, a giant window with various videos floats in the air.
As Poggu hints in his post, it might well be possible to play live streams in the new window as well, so big CS2 events in the future we might even be able to watch within the game and meet our friends there virtually.
True benefit unknown so far
Whether the video walls are actually intended for watch parties and online public viewing events during major tournaments remains unknown for now. However, the possibility would now definitely be there.
Another possible application would be the quick explanation of strategies during a tournament or even casual matches. Players could see and understand new tactics in no time during a timeout or the buying phase, even without having discussed them in detail before.
A much more unsightly reason for the new Panorama UI, on the other hand, would be its possible sale as advertising space during major tournaments or even in everyday matches.
The digital billboard is likely to reach and thus probably annoy many viewers especially during big CS2 events like the already announced PGL Major in Copenhagen.
