Valve has announced that Counter-Strike 2, the successor to the popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, will be out this summer. The game will be free for all current Global Offensive players and will introduce a sweeping set of updates to the competitive first-person shooter in what Valve is calling "the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike’s history". Here’s everything we know so far:
What is Counter-Strike?
Counter-Strike is a series of competitive first-person shooter games. Since the first game was released in 1999, it has grown into one of the world's most popular esports titles. According to recent Steam Charts data, the average active player base for the past month is more than 815,000.
The stakes are high — at the Blast Premier World Final 2022 held in Abu Dhabi, the winning team G2 walked away with $500,000, out of a prize pool of $1 million.
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Valve has announced an official summer release date for Counter-Strike 2, the successor to the beloved Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. All photos: Valve -
The game will be free for all current Global Offensive players and will introduce a sweeping set of updates -
Valve has already launched a beta-testing phase of the game, which includes Deathmatch and Unranked Competitive matches on the Dust II map -
Players are being selected for the test based on a variety of undisclosed factors by Valve
Players are assigned to one of two teams — Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists — and engage in a series of objective-based engagements, from hostage rescues to bomb defuses. The game features a variety of game modes, such as deathmatches and battle royales, although it is most renowned for its emphasis on tactics and high skill levels.
When is Counter-Strike 2 coming out?
Counter-Strike 2 will be coming out this summer. While Valve has not yet announced a specific date, it has already launched a beta-testing phase of the game, which includes Deathmatch and Unranked Competitive matches on the map, Dust II. The limited test is currently only available on Windows.
How do I join the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
At the moment, there is no way to manually opt into the test. Players are being selected based on a variety of undisclosed factors by Valve.
Once gamers are chosen, they will receive a notification at the top of their Counter-Strike: Global Offensive main menu. After receiving an invitation to enrol, they can download and launch the game.
What’s new?
Valve has unveiled a sweeping set of updates, which range from cosmetic to core gameplay details.
The developer released a video showcasing how it has overhauled the smoke grenade system with a new set of physics, which means smoke responds in a more dynamic way to the environment, and to player actions — allowing gamers to strategically clear out smoke using their weapons.
It has also revised the discrete time interval "tick-rate" system. This essentially aims to address how quickly the server refreshes within a certain time period, and how well it tracks gamers' actions, by streamlining this for all gamers.
Previously, players with lower or inconsistent tick rates might lose out on crucial milliseconds, which at a high level in Counter-Strike can be the difference between winning and losing hugely important games.
While classic maps are being given major cosmetic upgrades, some are being completely overhauled. Asides from several other visual updates, the developers have also reworked the audio system, to create a more immersive experience — crucial to players listening out for enemy movements.
Will I keep my customisable skins and upgrades?
Counter-Strike players are notoriously passionate about unlockable upgrades, or skins — which allow them to create customised weapons and items. This obsession has spawned an entire online economy, with one customised AK-47 recently selling for $160,000.
While some were worried their hard work might all be lost during the move to Counter-Strike 2, Valve has confirmed gamers will retain all their custom items.
Scroll through images of more games coming out in 2023 below
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Final Fantasy XVI pits players in a medieval-style quest for revenge, infusing European history with fantasy. Photo: Square Enix -
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Diablo IV offers a variety of character classes to choose from, with a range of powers and abilities. Photo: Blizzard Entertainment -
Baldur's Gate 3 is a classic party RPG game modelled after the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game. Photo: Larian Studios -
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes the action to the skies high above the land of Hyrule. Photo: Nintendo -
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set to bring back the immersive open-world gameplay and addictive combat. Photo: PlayStation -
Assassin's Creed Mirage takes players to historic Baghdad, where they are faced with the task of refining a young street thief into a master assassin. Photo: Ubisoft -
Starfield, the first new universe from Bethesda in 25 years, takes the beloved open-world role-playing game formula to outer space. Photo: Bethesda Softworks
