Counter-Strike 2: A Game-Changing Upgrade Arriving Summer 2023
Counter-Strike 2 is the next big thing in the world of gaming, and it promises to take the Counter-Strike franchise to new heights. With a release date set for summer 2023, players are eagerly anticipating what’s in store. But, lucky for a select few CS:GO players, the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test is currently underway, allowing players to experience some of the new features before the worldwide release.
One of the most exciting features of Counter-Strike 2 is the dynamic volumetric Smoke Grenades. These smoke grenades interact with the environment, reacting to lighting, gunfire, and explosions. Gameplay has been significantly enhanced with smoke now having the ability to interact with other gameplay events, creating new opportunities for players. Smoke now expands to fill spaces naturally, seeping out of opened doorways and broken windows, going down and up stairs, as well as expanding in long corridors and combining with other smokes. Smoke particles work with the unified lighting system, allowing for more realistic light and color.
In Counter-Strike 2, tick rate no longer matters for moving, shooting, or throwing. Sub-tick updates are the heart of Counter-Strike 2. Previously, the server only evaluated the world in discrete time intervals called ticks. Thanks to Counter-Strike 2’s sub-tick update architecture, servers know the exact instant that motion starts, a shot is fired, or a ‘nade is thrown. As a result, regardless of tick rate, your moving and shooting will be equally responsive, and your grenades will always land the same way.
Maps have also received significant upgrades, from overhauls to upgrades, and touchstone 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 use new Source 2 lighting, including a physically based rendering system that produces realistic materials, lighting, and reflections. Classic maps with solid foundations that players can use to evaluate gameplay changes from CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2 are touchstone maps. These have improvements to lighting and character read but have otherwise not been changed. The Source 2 tools and rendering features will be available for community map makers, making it easier to build, experiment, and iterate.
Players can bring their entire CS:GO inventory with them to Counter-Strike 2. Not only will players keep every item they’ve collected over the years, but they’ll all benefit from Source 2 lighting and materials. In addition to supporting legacy models and finishes, all stock weapons have been upgraded with high-resolution models, and some weapon finishes take advantage of these new models.
All of the visual effects have been updated in Counter-Strike 2, from UI to gameplay. With Source 2 lighting and particle systems, there’s an all-new look and behavior for water, explosions, fire, smoke, muzzle flashes, bullet tracers, impact effects, and more. Critical gameplay visuals have been redesigned with readability in mind, making bullet impacts easy to view at a distance, and directional blood impacts (that fade over time) give players more information as they move through the world. Environmental effects in Counter-Strike 2 feature improved visual fidelity and greater consistency, leveraging the Source 2 Engine and modern hardware. The UI in Counter-Strike 2 has gotten a complete overhaul, including fresh visual effects throughout the HUD.
The sounds of Counter-Strike 2 have been reworked to better reflect the physical environment, be more distinct, and express more game state. They have also been rebalanced for a more comfortable listening experience. While the Limited Test only evaluates a subset of Counter-Strike 2’s features, much more is to come. In just a few months, all of the details of Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 is set to be a game changer in the world of first-person shooters, with dynamic smoke grenades, sub-tick updates, cleaner maps, hi-def VFX, accurate audio, and much more. The limited test for select CS:GO players will allow the developers to evaluate a subset of features and iron out any issues before the official worldwide release in summer 2023. With all of these exciting new features and updates, Counter-Strike 2 promises to provide endless hours of intense, action-packed gameplay for years to come. So, get ready to build your loadout, hone your skills, and experience the future of Counter-Strike!
