The official announcement for Counter-Strike 2 just dropped, and it has gamers stunned. A limited test for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), which Valve describes as a “overhaul to every system, every piece of content, and every part of the C-S experience,” is beginning today, according to a tweet from the company. The game’s website calls it “the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike’s history” Strike’s and promises years of updates, features, and amazing gameplay.
Something New That We Love
Based on Valve’s Source 2 engine, CS2 features updates to some of the game’s core mechanics, such as improved smoke grenades and “sub-tick updates,” which let “servers know the exact instant that motion starts, a shot is fired, or a ‘nade is thrown,” according to Valve. In a video titled “Leveling Up The World,” Valve says that while maps will change in CS2, skilled players’ abilities should carry over. The three “tiers” of gaming maps are another topic covered by the organization. Certain “touchstone” levels, like Dust II, have slight visual changes but otherwise remain unchanged. These levels should allow players to acquire a sense of the new gameplay in a recognizable environment.
A Couple of Updates
There are other maps that have been improved or reworked, either by adding Source 2 features or by completely rebuilding them. A specific bind may also be used to take the silencer off your rifle, according to a tweet. People will be chosen to participate in the “limited test” based on criteria like “recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing,” the firm says. If you’re chosen, you’ll receive a notification in the CS:GO main menu that will allow you to enroll.
Users are permitted to stream their experience and publish recordings of it, so even those of us who can’t play the game should get a nice look at the upgraded smoke and lighting effects. You can only now play the restricted test in Deathmatch and “unranked competitive matchmaking” modes on the renowned Dust II map from Counter-Strike, though Valve promises that additional modes and maps will be included in later test releases. The limited test is also only available on Windows for now, and the FAQ makes zero mentions of Valve’s Steam Deck handheld.