After being live since August 21, 2012, Valve is finally beginning to test the waters with a universal upgrade to its massive popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO, with Counter-Strike 2.
While Counter-Strike 2 won’t make significant changes to the game’s core gameplay, the game will be receiving some massive updates in the form of changes to lighting, maps being overhauled and updated using the Source 2 engine, Source 2 tools for better community map makings, more high-quality textures, VFX, sound, balancing, and changes to certain physics to make things like the smoke grenade reacts with gameplay.
On top of all of that, the game is currently hosting a limited test up until the game launches this summer! To participate in the test all you have to do is open up Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and if you are eligible for the test you’ll be given a notification. For more on how to get into the test, you can check out the game’s FAQ regarding the Limited Test.
Counter-Strike 2 is slated for release in Summer 2023.
▍Counter-Strike 2 Gameplay Changes
■No More Tick Rates
Previously one of the biggest flaws of CS:GO was its tick rates. The game would operate in timed intervals of “ticks”, and every action that occurred during these ticks would be registered by the game’s server and client. However, actions outside of these ticks would sometimes fail to register, causing you to miss crucial shots at pivotal moments. Now the game is getting rid of ticks entirely, ensuring a seamless experience during combat.
■Smoke Grenade Overhaul
The smoke grenade will now react more dynamically with the world and gameplay, as the smoke can now be pushed aside using weapons and HE Grenades allowing you to reveal parts of the smoke during combat encounters. Smoke grenade also react more dynamically with the world, covering objects as it moves and reacting with the world’s lighting.
■Complete Map Overhauls and Upgrades
Your favorite maps in Counter-Strike are also getting complete overhauls and upgrades, in both areas of its design and visual fidelity, Check out these comparison shots of a couple of maps, with the first image being the old one, compared with the new!
■New Source 2 Tools for Map Building
As CS2 works on the Source 2 engine, Valve will also be bringing in new tools to help map creators create better stages with more flexible textures, model placements, and more.
▍Counter-Strike 2 Improved Visuals and Effects
Before you wonder what will happen to all of your precious weapon skins and other accessories and sprays, Counter-Strike 2 will also import every, single, one, of your cosmetic items into the game on release, while also improving on its visual fidelity with higher resolution textures, better models and lighting support!
On top of that visual effects for combat have also been drastically improved, with better hit effects to let you know you’ve hit your mark, blood splatter on the environment,a nd much more.
The game’s UI is also getting a massive overhaul, providing more detail to look slicker and place more importance on certain game events, like getting an ace!
The game’s also going to be reworking its audio engine to better reflect the environment you’re in and the action, to express a more realistic game state and comfortable listening experience.
