Valve Officially Announces CS2 and You May Be Playing It Today

After recent leaks and rumors surfaced, Valve has officially announced Counter-Strike 2, the brand new Source 2 engine update for the long-standing tactical shooter franchise. Coming as a completely free update, CS2 promises to bring a handful of changes, including map overhauls, improvements to tick-rate gameplay, and completely redesigned visual and audio effects.

Though the exact release date is not yet known, Valve states that CS2 is planned to release in Summer 2023. However, a Limited Testing phase will begin today, and select players will be able to jump in to the brand new update right now.

Counter Strike 2 is the Largest Leap Forward Yet

The complete list of upcoming features and upgrades for Counter Strike 2 won’t be revealed until closer to launch, though the limited testing period will serve as an evaluation for a subset of specific features to better prepare for the worldwide release.

Here are some of the features that players can expect in the Limited Testing phase:

• Upgraded and overhauled maps
• Game-changing dynamic smoke grenades
• Tick-rate-independent gameplay
• Redesigned visual effects and audio
• All of a player’s CS:GO items go with them to CS2

Related: Can You Play CS:GO Source 2 Early? – Answered

CS2 appears to be the largest technical leap in Counter-Strike history, as clips showcased on the official website show just how many aspects have been improved.

Smoke grenades are now dynamic volumetric objects, and react much more realistically to the surrounding environments. Smoke will naturally fill spaces, and can be temporarily brushed away by things like gunfire and explosions.

Tick rate, one of the core aspects of responsive online shooters, is being improved in a major way. From the CS2 website, “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.“

Maps are receiving a big overhaul, with upgrades textures and lighting effects for a brighter and more clear visual experience. In fact, all visual effects are receiving upgrades; from explosions, to fire effects, even down to blood splatter on walls and the ground.

How to Play the Counter Strike 2 Limited Test

Counter Strike 2 is a major game changer, and is an exciting time for all fans of competitive online shooters. Select players around the world will be able to access the Limited Test starting today. Find out if you made it into the CS2 Limited Testing phase and how to play it with our guide here.

For more information on CS2, check out our other guides and tips here at Prima Games.