Valve has fulfilled its promise by releasing Counter-Strike 2 to the public after months of testing. This game serves as the successor to the very popular CS:GO, designed for PCs. Counter-Strike 2 comes with a modernized experience, powered by the Source 2 engine, featuring realistic physically-based rendering, advanced networking capabilities, and improved Community Workshop tools, according to Valve.
While retaining the classic objective-focused gameplay that made Counter-Strike a pioneer in 1999, Counter-Strike 2 introduces several exciting features. These include the all-new CS Ratings with an updated Premier mode, Global and Regional leaderboards, revamped and enhanced maps, game-changing dynamic smoke grenades, tick-rate-independent gameplay, and redesigned visual effects and audio.
Valve has ensured that all items from CS:GO will transition seamlessly to CS2. However, it’s important to note that CS:GO achievements have been reset and are no longer accessible.
For newcomers, Counter-Strike 2 offers an opportunity to learn the basics through offline training before diving into Casual and Deathmatch modes to refine their skills. Once Competitive matchmaking is unlocked, players can fully engage in the competitive gaming experience.
Counter-Strike 2’s release is a significant moment for fans of the franchise, offering enhanced gameplay and features to the classic formula that has attracted players for decades.
Minimum System Requirements to play Counter Strike 2:
Minimum requirements include Intel Core i5 750 or higher, 8 GB RAM, 1 GB GPU or more with DirectX 11 compatibility and support for Shader Model 5.0, 85 GB available space.
Features:
- Gameplay: Smoke now has the ability to interact with other gameplay events, creating new opportunities. Bullets and HE grenades can push smoke to briefly clear sight lines or expand occlusion.
- Reacts to Lighting: In Counter-Strike 2 smoke particles work with the unified lighting system allowing for more realistic light and color.
- Full Overhaul Maps: The overhauled maps have been fully rebuilt from the ground up, leveraging all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features.
- Upgrade Maps: These are maps that use new Source 2 lighting, including a physically based rendering system that produces realistic materials, lighting, and reflections.
- Touchstone Maps: Classic maps with solid foundations that players can use to evaluate gameplay changes from CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2. These have improvements to lighting and character read, but otherwise haven’t been changed.
- Source 2 Tools: The Source 2 tools and rendering features will be available for community mapmakers to make it easier to build, experiment and iterate. And stay tuned for the Source 2 Item Workshop, which will be available later on in the limited test.