CS2 - it's already here

We were all waiting for the premiere of CS2. Since the game was announced, gamers have eagerly anticipated its release and whether it might surpass the position that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive previously held. We can now proudly say that CS2 is here. Many have been waiting since March for CS2 to premiere. Each new piece of information and every beta test has had players literally counting the days until the new CS game's release. In this article, we will provide you with the most important information about CS2.

Mostly, we will describe what CS2 really is, when the game premiered, and what its system requirements are. But most importantly, we are going to tell you about the biggest changes between CS2 and CSGO. We will also analyze gamers' and fans' first impressions of CS2. Furthermore, we will examine whether Valve was able to deliver the product they promised or if they fell short. Are you ready? If so, then let’s dive into the world of CS2.

What is CS2?

In general, Valve officially released Counter-Strike 2 as a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which has been among the most popular titles on Steam since 2011. Before this, the game was available to players only as part of a limited technical test. Fortunately, players chosen for these tests provided feedback about the beta version of the game. Most of this feedback was positive, fueling anticipation for Counter-Strike 2.
Counter-Strike 2 officially replaces CSGO on Steam. According to Valve, it represents “the beginning of an exciting new chapter and the largest technical leap in Counter-Strike’s history.” All items from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (like weapon skins, graffiti, agent skins, etc.) have been transferred to Counter-Strike 2. Just like its predecessor, CS2 is free to download and play. Players who had prime status in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will retain it in Counter-Strike 2. This status primarily affects the weekly drops of cases and weapon skins. Interestingly, in Counter-Strike 2, players can choose their rewards. Out of the four available rewards (graffiti, weapon skins, and one case), players can select two. This is a notable change, as many players were frustrated when, after a challenging game, they received only graffiti. The ability to choose one's reward is a welcome change. The lingering question, however, is whether this feature will be permanent. We certainly hope so.

In general, Valve announced the game in March, promising players an “overhaul to every system, every piece of content, and every part of the [Counter-Strike] experience”. They also mentioned specific enhancements, such as new features and dynamic smoke grenades. Did Valve actually deliver on these promises? Well, let’s see.

When was the game published and what are the system requirements?

Before we delve deeper into the topic, we believe it's crucial to discuss when the game was published and the system requirements for Counter-Strike 2. CS2 was released on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 1.41 PM PT, 4.41 PM ET, and 9.41 PM GMT. From that moment on, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was removed from the Steam store and replaced by CS2. Prior to the release date, Valve teased on Twitter with the message “What are you doing next Wednesday?” and gamers instantly grasped its implication.

Many players found the premiere date unusual. Why? Simply because Wednesday is the day when in-game drops reset. Now, with CS2's arrival, we can no longer play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Given this, it's not surprising that many were concerned about system requirements, especially considering CS2 runs on the new Source 2 engine. This raised concerns among owners of older computers. Below, we present the system requirements for CS2.

Minimum system requirements:

• Operating system: Windows 10 (64 bits)
• CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k or AMD FX-6300
• Memory: 4 GB of RAM.
• Graphics: GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580.
• Storage: 60 GB of free space on the Hard Disk.

Recommended system requirements:

• Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit.
• Processor: Intel Core i7 9700k or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM.
• Graphics: RTX 2070 or Radeon RX 5700 XT.
• DirectX: Version 11.
• Storage: 60 GB of available Hard Disk space.

As can be seen, many older computers might not be able to meet these requirements because they are simply too outdated. They may be able to launch CS2, but the gaming experience could be compromised. It's important to remember that, both in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and in Counter-Strike 2, FPS is crucial for success in competitive gameplay. However, just as with CS:GO, settings in CS2 can be adjusted to optimize FPS.

Counter-Strike 2 Player record

As you already know, Counter-Strike 2 was released on September 27, and the game has already achieved a milestone. It attracted 31,466,851 unique players in September, which is the highest in franchise history. It should be noted that these numbers probably include both Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and CS2 beta players. The game hasn’t surpassed the CSGO peak player record yet, but it still recorded an impressive peak of 1,471,730 players on its first full day, September 28th, as reported by Aquarius on his Twitter account.

CS2 seems to have enormous potential to redefine the standards currently present in the gaming industry. We're curious to see how the game will evolve in the near future. We hope it achieves popularity on par with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Players first impression

Essentially, this is the crux of our article. We aim to explore players' initial reactions to CS2. Did Valve deliver on what they promised, or did they fall short? Opinions about the game vary at the moment. However, the world's top player, S1mple, commented, "I hope you enjoyed it because I certainly did. We need additional maps and some sound adjustments. And that right-button crosshair requiring a double press? Perhaps it's a new feature. What's truly intriguing? The game is still in beta. Remember the CS:GO beta? Back then, everything felt much more 'beta-like'. I'm confident we'll see further updates." Another player wrote on Reddit about his enjoyment of CS2.

On steam we can also find rather positive opinions like for example

Another opinion from Steam.

In general, if you want to know what players think about CS:GO, the best approach is to check the opinions on Steam. Additionally, the professional CS player, Nikola “NiKo” Kovac, shared his thoughts about CS2 on Twitter. He stated, “CS2 is not ready yet for competition, but oh boy, it feels nice to play a new game.

In general, most players are quite satisfied with CS2. However, some negative opinions about the game do exist, which is entirely unsurprising. Players' complaints primarily revolve around two issues. The first is matchmaking. With progress being reset in CS2, many players from higher divisions find themselves mixed with those who were Silver I or Silver II in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Understandably, this can be a frustrating experience for less skilled players. One player delved into the matchmaking issue in detail on Reddit.

On the other hand, some players expressed frustration that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was replaced with CS2, which is entirely understandable. Many have a deep affinity for the older version and would prefer the option to choose between CSGO and CS2. It's worth noting that, as of now, players can still launch the GO version of the game. While matchmaking is unavailable, community servers remain operational. Valve, however, had other plans. We must recognize that change is inevitable. It was only a matter of time before Counter-Strike: Global Offensive would be phased out, and that day arrived recently.

Biggest changes between Counter-Strike 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

One of the most frequently asked questions about CS2 concerns the differences between CS2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. There are several significant distinctions, which we will detail in this article. The changes are as follows:

• The most notable alteration is the game engine. The source engine transitioned to Source 2, which affords players enhanced graphics, superior effects, and crucially, refined physics.
• The server tick rate includes the "magic" of a system called subtick, enhancing the gaming experience and accelerating the game's pace. This makes CS2 considerably more competitive.
•  Game modes underwent modifications. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive featured competitive, wingman, casual, deathmatch, and private queues. In contrast, CS2 provides Premier, Competitive, Wingman, Casual, and Deathmatch. We are confident that new modes will be introduced to CS2 in the future. Additionally, map offerings evolved. While Counter-Strike: Global Offensive presented classic CS maps (like Dust II) with occasional updates, CS2 offers all maps with graphical enhancements and complete overhauls, such as Italy and Inferno.
• Among the most transformative changes are the dynamics of grenades and smoke. CS2 introduces dynamic volumetric and reactive smokes coupled with advanced grenade mechanics. Practically speaking, if a bullet pierces smoke, a section dissipates due to the bullet's high velocity. Moreover, a grenade can entirely dissipate smoke, revolutionizing the dynamics of these elements.
• CS2 also revamped the game menu, HUD, and purchase menu. The circular menu from CSGO gave way to a streamlined linear buy menu, which furnishes players with weapon details, usage difficulty, and helpful hints (such as recommended rounds for specific weapon purchases).
• Matchmaking received updates as well. Traditional CSGO operated on an MR15 system, where each half had 15 maximum rounds, culminating in a draw at a 15-15 score. Conversely, CS2 employs an MR12 system, with each half having 12 maximum rounds and an overtime option adding 6 rounds for a 12-12 tie.

These are the paramount differences between Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2. Players' reactions vary; some embrace the changes, while others are less enthusiastic. We'd love to hear your thoughts: How do you feel about these modifications?

New AMD GPU Counter-Strike 2 crashes

Currently, this is the most pressing issue with CS2. According to various reports, a recent driver update for AMD graphic cards has been causing crashes while playing Counter-Strike 2. Specifically, players with an AMD 7900 XTX GPU are advised not to install the 23.9.3 driver update if they wish to play CS2 without issues. This graphics card update, released on October 3rd, 2023, comes with a warning indicating “intermittent drivers crash while playing Counter Strike 2 on certain AMD graphics products, such as the Radeon RX 7900 XTX”. We are confident that this problem will be addressed swiftly. However, it's worth noting that this is just one of several significant issues with CS2 at this time. Given that the game has just been launched, we remain hopeful that these challenges will be rectified in the near future.

CS2 - it's already here – summary

Counter-Strike 2 debuted on Steam just a few days ago, and already, the community has seen significant activity. This surge in engagement isn't surprising, especially considering the vast number of players who enjoyed CS2 on its first day. There's no denying that CS2 ushers in a new era of online, competitive gaming. However, based on opinions from Steam and Reddit, it appears that Valve has released a product that isn't quite ready for competitive play. Many players feel that the game, even post-launch, resembles a beta version and is riddled with bugs. We remain optimistic that Valve will refine the game promptly. Notably, CS2 has garnered mostly positive reviews, underscoring its potential.

There's no denying that the game's release came with its fair share of issues. Two stand out prominently. The first pertains to matchmaking, where newer and less skilled players are frequently matched against professionals. Additionally, many solo queue players have highlighted that they're often up against a full team of 5 premade players, leading to an unenjoyable experience. The second major concern involves the new AMD graphics update causing game crashes. Opinions about the game vary, and every gamer is entitled to their perspective. Given this, it's intriguing to speculate on CS2's trajectory in the coming months. Personally, the author appreciates several changes in CS2, particularly the option to select from four different weekly rewards. More updates are expected for CS2, especially considering it was released just a month ago and several aspects remain in development. With regular updates anticipated, CS2 remains a topic of keen interest. We'll ensure you stay updated with any significant developments. We're also eager to hear your views on Counter-Strike 2, as player feedback is paramount.