Counter-Strike 2

Introducing

The next era of Counter-Strike is here!

Counter-Strike 2 is the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike’s history, ensuring new features and updates for years to come.

Counter-Strike 2 is a free upgrade to CS:GO. So build your loadout, hone your skills, and prepare yourself for what’s next!

Read on to learn more about some of the features of Counter-Strike 2.

Counter-Strike 2:

BEYOND GLOBAL

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New CS Rating

Go Beyond Global With the New CS Rating

Your CS Rating is a visible measurement of your Counter-Strike performance, and it will determine where you stand on global and regional leaderboards. To get your CS Rating, play matches in the updated Premier mode (our Active Duty Pick-Ban competitive mode) either on your own or with your friends.

Counter-Strike 2:

Responsive Smokes

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Game Changer

Smoke Grenades are now dynamic volumetric objects that interact with the environment, and react to lighting, gunfire, and explosions.

Gameplay

Smoke now has the ability to interact with other gameplay events, creating new opportunities. Bullets and HE grenades can push smoke to briefly clear sightlines or expand occlusion.

Expands to fill spaces naturally

Now the smoke will seep out of opened doorways and broken windows, go down and up stairs, as well as expand in long corridors and combine with other smokes.

Reacts to Lighting

In Counter-Strike 2 smoke particles work with the unified lighting system allowing for more realistic light and color.

Counter-Strike 2:

Moving Beyond Tick Rate

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What you see is what you get

Tick rate no longer matters for moving, shooting, or throwing.

Sub-tick updates are the heart of Counter-Strike 2. Previously, the server only evaluated the world in discrete time intervals (called ticks). Thanks to Counter-Strike 2’s sub-tick update architecture, servers know the exact instant that motion starts, a shot is fired, or a ‘nade is thrown.

As a result, regardless of tick rate, your moving and shooting will be equally responsive and your grenades will always land the same way.

Counter-Strike 2:

Leveling Up The World

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Cleaner, Brighter, Better

From upgrades to overhauls, maps are cleaner, brighter, better.

Full Overhaul Maps

The overhauled maps have been fully rebuilt from the ground up, leveraging all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features.

Example Map: Overpass

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

Long A

Lower Tunnels

Restroom

Bombsite A

Upgrade Maps

These are maps that use new Source 2 lighting, including a physically based rendering system that produces realistic materials, lighting, and reflections.

Example Map: Nuke

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

Bombsite A

Ramp

T-Spawn

Tunnels

Touchstone Maps

Classic maps with solid foundations that players can use to evaluate gameplay changes from CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2. These have improvements to lighting and character read, but otherwise haven't been changed.

Example Map: Dust II

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

CS:GO

CS2

Back Plat

Long A Doors

CT Spawn

Mid Doors

Source 2 Tools

The Source 2 tools and rendering features are available for community map makers and artists, making it easier than ever to build, experiment, and iterate. We can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Your Items in a whole new light

Bring your entire CS:GO inventory with you to Counter-Strike 2. Not only will you keep every item you’ve collected over the years, but they’ll all benefit from Source 2 lighting and materials.

In addition to supporting legacy models and finishes, all stock weapons have been upgraded with high-resolution models, and some weapon finishes take advantage of these new models.

Hi-Def VFX

From UI to gameplay, all visual effects have been reimagined.

All of the visual effects have been updated in Counter-Strike 2. With Source 2 lighting and particle systems, there’s an all-new look and behavior for water, explosions, fire, smoke, muzzle flashes, bullet tracers, impact effects, and more.

Gameplay Visuals

In Counter-Strike 2 the most critical gameplay visuals have been redesigned with readability in mind. Bullet impacts can be easily viewed at a distance, and directional blood impacts (that fade over time) give you more information as you move through the world.

Environment Effects

Experience completely reauthored explosions, fire, C4 lighting, and more. Leveraging the Source 2 Engine and modern hardware, environmental effects in Counter-Strike 2 feature improved visual fidelity and greater consistency.

UI Enhancements

The UI in Counter-Strike 2 has gotten a complete overhaul, including fresh visual effects throughout the HUD. Not only do these improvements look nice, they also communicate important game state.

Accurate Audio

Reworked, Rebalanced, Reverbed

Counter-Strike 2 sounds have been reworked to better reflect the physical environment, be more distinct, and express more game state. They have also been rebalanced for a more comfortable listening experience.

COUNTER-STRIKE 2 IS HERE

The Counter-Strike community spent months playing the CS2 Limited Test and providing feedback to help shape the game ahead of its debut. Come join the millions of players who are honing their skills and rising through the ranks. Welcome to Counter-Strike 2.