The announcement was made on March 22, 2023. Counter-Strike 2 is a new chapter in the legendary multiplayer shooter. This guide compiles everything known about the game up to today.
Counter-Strike 2 is a free upgrade for CS:GO, migrating the game to the Source 2 engine and introducing a host of new features. Some changes are cosmetic, while others influence core gameplay and balance.
How to Participate in the Counter-Strike 2 Closed Beta Test
Testing began on March 22, 2023. Although it occurs behind closed doors, every user has a chance to receive an invite. To be eligible, players should own Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in their library.
The invitation process considers multiple factors, including account status, trust signals, recent activity on Valve servers, and other signals. Players who play CS:GO without cheating are favored to receive invitations in the main menu of the game.
It is also advised to verify the integrity of the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive file cache. The steps are as follows:
- Open your Steam library.
- Find CS:GO.
- Right-click the game icon.
- Choose Properties.
- Open the Local Files tab.
- Click Check integrity of game files.
If an invitation is received, players should follow these steps:
- Launch CS:GO.
- Click the Subscribe button to download the second sharing client.
- Click the Restricted Test icon.
After these steps, testing of Counter-Strike 2 begins. If an invitation is not received, players simply wait for the next beta phase.
How Smoke Mechanics Will Change in Counter-Strike 2
Smokes first appeared in early iterations of Counter-Strike and became a key strategic element. Players often felt the smoke did not behave as intended. Valve listened and redesigned the smoke system for Counter-Strike 2.
In previous versions, some players could see through the smoke while others could not. That discrepancy is gone. The new smoke is fully opaque but can be dispelled by gunfire or grenade impact. In CS:GO the smoke was static and unresponsive to player actions.
Additionally, the new smoke loop will spread through rooms and seep in through windows, doors, and other openings. This behavior should be considered when planning smoke throws.
What Other Innovations Await Players in Counter-Strike 2
The overall game structure remains familiar. Teams are still split into terrorists and counter-terrorists, with the same bomb detonation, hostage rescue, and round-end conditions based on player eliminations. The core objective remains unchanged, but several enhancements lift the experience.
The main innovations of Counter-Strike 2 compared to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive include:
- The shadows of enemies are clearer for better perception;
- Players can see their own shadows and leg positions for improved depth cues;
- Many classic maps have been rebuilt from the ground up, with updated level design requiring fine-tuning;
- An adaptive sight system follows bullet trajectories more realistically;
- Firing feels smoother and more responsive;
- On private servers and in custom modes, a grenade trajectory indicator appears, but this will not be available in ranked matches;
- Molotov and nearby explosions amplify fire effects for increased intensity;
- Throwing weapons can reach higher arcs and travel farther without hitting an artificial ceiling;
- The sniper scope now zooms in via a double-click rather than holding the button for a longer period;
- Bullet impact marks on walls are visible from a distance and fade over time;
- A new particle system enhances visuals for shots, explosions, water behavior, and more;
- The user interface is redesigned to deliver more critical information at a glance.
The changes aim to preserve the fast pace and competitive feel while delivering more clarity, responsiveness, and visual fidelity across maps and modes.
When Will Counter-Strike 2 Release
At present, an exact release date has not been announced. Rumors suggested a 2023 summer window, but timelines have shifted as development continued. The guide will be updated as reliable information becomes available with ongoing testing and official communications.
These notes reflect the ongoing evolution of Counter-Strike 2 and its efforts to balance familiarity with meaningful improvements for players in North America and beyond.