Valve is known for creating much-loved games such as Half-Life, Portal, and Left 4 Dead. One of their most successful games is the online first-person shooter, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), which gained a significant following in the esports community since its release in 2012.
Valve has provided substantial support for CSGO, but now, they are developing a full sequel, referred to as Counter-Strike 2, which will introduce significant changes from the previous game. Although Valve has not revealed many details, they promise plenty of surprises. Here is what we currently know about Counter-Strike 2.
Counter Strike 2 Release
Valve has officially confirmed that Counter-Strike 2 is real and set to launch in the summer of 2023. After months of rumors, the company finally made the announcement on March 22, 2023. Although the exact release date is currently unknown, more information is expected to be revealed in the following months.
Counter Strike 2 Availability
Valve has also announced that limited testing of Counter-Strike 2 will be made available to current CSGO players. Eligibility will be determined based on various factors that the development team considers important, such as recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing, as explained in the game’s FAQ.
If deemed eligible, players will receive an invite notification from the CSGO main menu. While it is not clear how long the limited test will run, Valve promises to provide updates through the Counter-Strike blog.
What’s new?
Counter-Strike 2 is essentially an upgraded version of CSGO that offers improved visuals thanks to the Source 2 engine. Even better, it is a free update to CSGO, which means that the entire community can migrate to the new game at the same time. The updated game will include a visual revamp, better maps, and “dynamic volumetric” smoke grenades. Valve has released three new videos showcasing the new maps, online tick rate, and the aforementioned smoke grenades.
Furthermore, Valve has confirmed that all items acquired in the original CSGO game will be transferrable to Counter-Strike 2. Additionally, workshop maps will be available in the new game at some point in the future.
