Since Valve released the first information about Counter-Strike 2, the internet has gone crazy. CS2 is supposed to be bigger, better, and faster than Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. A few days ago, Valve launched the first CS2 trailers on Youtube  and the CS fanbase went ballistic.

Valve states that Counter-Strike 2 is the biggest technical improvement in the entire history of the CS franchise, providing players with a new engine (Source 2) and countless new features and updates that will make the gameplay smoother and better, while still remaining the same Counter-Strike we love so much. New methods of interaction with the world and a rebuilt lighting system will allow players to pull off actions and tricks they could only dream of in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. CS2 will take the everlasting battles between terrorists and anti-terrorists into a bright, new future.

How popular is this topic? Results from Google Trends might surprise you, as can be seen in the images presented below.

CS2 Interest in Google trends

As it can be seen, gamers are anxiously awaiting CS2 and it should not be surprising. After all, CS:GO is still so popular after so many years. Since the trailers were released, players have been constantly searching Google for things like:

• Beta CS2
• Counter-Strike – Series
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Video Game
• Counter-Strike Online 2 – Online Game
• Source 2 – Video Game Engine
• CS2 CSGO
• CS GO
• Counter Strike 2

It seems that the release of the new CS2 could result in a lot of new players appearing in the game. In this article, we will provide you with the most important information about CS2. Additionally, we will regularly release news about Counter-Strike 2 as soon as Valve releases additional information. Thanks to this, we will always keep you up to date with the latest trends. Furthermore, if you want to know more, you can always visit the official CS2 site.

What do we know about Source 2?

The most important aspect of the new Counter-Strike 2 is the new Source 2 engine. The Source was implemented in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which was released in 2012. After 11 years, it is quite old, so Source 2 is being implemented. This engine will change the graphics of the game, making it more beautiful, especially in terms of lighting effects. It should also be noted that Source 2 was already used in another game, DOTA 2 and it was also used in making a VR Game - Half-Life: Alyx. For those who don't know, DOTA 2 is a MOBA game based on a popular mod for Warcraft 3. The DOTA 2 fan base reacted positively to Source 2, so it is not surprising that Valve decided to do the same for CS2.

Maps in CS2

One of the most significant elements for players would be the maps that will be given to us in CS2. We have to say that Valve did everything to make beloved maps even better. Some of them were simply upgraded, while others were overhauled and fully rebuilt, starting from the smallest details, with the use of new tools provided by the Source 2 engine. It is hard to explain how different the new maps are, so we are going to provide you with images that show clearly that the new CS2 maps are cleaner, brighter, and simply better.

In general, Valve classified CS2 map overhauls into three different categories: Upgrade, Overhaul, and Touchstone. What does this mean? Touchstone maps are those that were changed only slightly (a few details), but these changes can still be seen by a player. In the case of upgrade maps, elements such as lighting and reflections were modified. Meanwhile, overhaul maps were fully rebuilt from scratch, as stated by Valve. Judging by the images presented above, it can be seen clearly that maps in CS2 look much more beautiful than their CS:GO counterparts. You are sure to love them as soon as you are able to play.

Accurate audio and upgraded sound effects

According to Valve, the sound effects in Counter-Strike 2 have been upgraded to better reflect the environment and game state. This will make the game more realistic. As the producers have pointed out, the radar will now pinpoint the area where footsteps can be heard. This is a great update, especially for new players who are not yet familiar with how sound works in the game. Additionally, the sounds of some weapons have been changed depending on the environment in which they are being fired. This will allow players to more accurately pinpoint the source of the sound. This will make the gameplay even more dynamic. You can check weapon sounds on Youtube  and decide for yourself if you see a difference.

CS 2 Tick Rate

For many years, players have complained that in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, servers interpret the game at regular intervals, which in gaming jargon are known as ticks. The server needs to compare a significant amount of data from all the players during a match, which often leads to a significant discrepancy between what the player sees on the monitor and what the server registers. In such a dynamic game as CS, where milliseconds are crucial for success, it has been proven to be problematic relatively often. It is true that with experience, players are able to react to that discrepancy, but it is still a major issue. However, Valve decided to address this problem, as presented in this video.

We won't bother you with a full explanation of how the new "subtick" architecture works exactly; however, as promised by Valve, there will be no more misses, mistimings, stutters, lags, or any other problems that could ruin your enjoyment of the game. As Valve states “(…)regardless of tick rate, your moving and shooting will be equally responsive and your grenades will always land the same way.”

Your inventory and precious skins are going to look even better

Nowadays, CS simply cannot exist without skins for weapons. Players love to collect them, so it should not be surprising that one of the most important questions asked by players is: What is going to happen to my skins in CS2? You can relax; every item you have ever collected during your career in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will be transferred to CS2, and all of them will benefit from improved lighting, effects, and materials provided by the Source 2 engine.

Visual and smoke effects

As can be found on the official site of CS2, all the visual effects of the game have been updated. Water, explosions, fire, impact effects, etc. not only look different and more stunning, but also present a completely new, realistic behavior. You can now view bullet impacts from a great distance, and blood impacts provide you with more information about situations on the battlefield. Explosions and fire are now up to par with modern AAA games. You will be surprised at how amazing CS looks on the new Source 2 engine.

However, the biggest game-changer is smoke grenades, which have been changed into dynamic volumetric objects that are able to interact with the environment. To put it simply, smoke reacts to explosions, lighting, and even gunfire. Furthermore, "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".

These new smoke grenades will provide players with countless new opportunities in their approach to a situation on the battlefield, as can be seen in this official smoke grenades trailer. Furthermore, smoke grenades are now color-coded according to the team they belong to; a nice little detail.

UI Enchantments

Valve decided that the UI in Counter-Strike 2 also needed a complete overhaul. Hence, completely new and fresh visual effects can be seen on the HUD. Furthermore, the player receives an audio cue and banner card whenever they make a kill. The HUD looks more modern and minimalistic but at the same time, it is able to convey more information than before. For example, you will be able to see exactly what your teammates bought at the top of your screen, which will allow you to react properly to their behavior. Furthermore, Valve decided to add a new crosshair which follows the recoil spray (great thing for new players) but you can disable it if you want.

Of course, there are countless other little details that were implemented in the game. However, describing all of them would take too long. We are also certain that new elements will be added to the game during the development process. We will notify you every time new information about CS2 is released by Valve.

When will CS2 be released and how can I access beta tests?

According to Valve, the game will be released this summer, but the exact release date is still unknown. You can join the beta tests and play the game right now if Valve provides you with a beta key. You just have to wait for an invitation from Valve. It seems that deciding elements are the trust factor and your experience (how much time you spent on official servers prior to beta introduction). However, according to information provided by players, it seems that this is not necessarily true. Sometimes beta keys are distributed completely randomly, and even players with a low rank or those who do not play the game much are able to get an invitation for CS2 beta.

CAUTION!

Unfortunately, players report that on the Internet you can find many scam offers where people offer "cheap CS2 beta keys" or "free CS2 beta keys". You should avoid such offers. Only Valve can give you an invitation for beta tests. Besides, we doubt that the company is happy that someone is making money on their game in such a way.

I was banned in CS:GO. Can I use this account to play CS2?

Unfortunately, you can not. As stated by Valve, accounts with VAC or game bans in CS:GO are not allowed to play CS2 on VAC-secured servers.

If you have any more questions you can check the official CS2 FAQ .

How does the fanbase react to CS2?

The last thing we would like to cover in this article is the general reaction of the fanbase towards CS2. Opinions, as always, are divided; some players love the new ideas while other, more orthodox CS:GO fans are against them. @LobanjicaCS voiced his concerns very clearly on his Twitter account.

Other players, on the other hand, love the new graphics and the no-tick system. For example, DonHaci pointed this out in his comment on the Twitter account.

In general, there are as many opinions as there are CS:GO players. For the final verdict, we need to wait for the release of the game.

CS2 summary

In this article, we have provided you with the most important information about CS2. The topic is extremely popular, and Valve wants to take their golden child into a new, modern era. If you are lucky enough to receive an invitation for beta tests, then you can enjoy CS2 right now. Otherwise, you will need to wait until summer. Only a few months to go. Stay tuned, and we will notify you when Valve releases new tweaks and information about Counter-Strike 2.