When is the Counter-Strike 2 release date? For years now, rumors of an updated version of Counter-Strike Global Offensive running on a new engine have been circulating. While CSGO 2 seemed like a pipe dream for many, now it is real.
In March 2023, Valve finally revealed the existence of Counter-Strike 2, and a limited-access beta began soon after. Now though, players want to know when the full CS2 release date is and what they can expect from it when they get hands-on. Here’s everything you need to know.
Counter-Strike 2 release date window
The Counter-Strike 2 release date is officially set for Summer 2023. We also expect that Valve will get sentimental, and will launch CS2 fully on Monday, August 21, 2023 to commemorate the same release date as the original CSGO in 2012.
August 21 would definitely be a meaningful date for CS2 to fully launch, and with a huge influx of players expected, a Monday release might be a little kinder on Valve’s servers than if it were to go live on a Friday or weekend. CSGO’s player count has hit record numbers in recent months, mostly due to the renewed interest in the competitive FPS game thanks to the announcement of CS2.
Counter-Strike 2 limited test
Until the full launch of the game, an exclusive invite-only Counter-Strike 2 limited test is currently available. Valve suggests the requirements to enter the test include, but aren’t limited to “recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing.”
If you’ve played CS:GO before, the best bet is to continue booting up the game (as you likely have been), and if you’re lucky enough, you may get access at some point during the test. However, it’s much more likely that you’ll be able to play Counter-Strike 2 when it launches.
Counter-Strike 2 rumors
News of a CS:GO 2 update was first revealed in a report from journalist Richard Lewis.
Other leaks that pointed to this before the official reveal included NVIDIA adding driver support for two new executables: csgo.2.exe and cs2.exe. On March 14, Source 2 was added to the developer pre-release branch. Then three days later, on March 17, trademarks for ‘CS2’ and ‘Counter Strike’ were filed by Valve. These are directly connected to the existing CS:GO trademark, offering further proof that the two are connected. The CS:GO Twitter account also changed its banner for the first time in months, depicting five silhouettes of CT players. You can see that banner below.
Earlier that day, Valve developers were seen to change their profile pictures, sparking rumors they were taking promotional screenshots for the announcement. On March 21, 2023, the banner was changed yet again to a new logo for the game removing the “Global Offensive” in the tagline and changing the shade of blue.
Counter-Strike 2 updates
Counter-Strike 2 will have a number of updates to the gameplay including sub-tick updates, meaning that tick rate no longer matters for moving and shooting. It will also calculate precise actions between ticks. Visually the game has also seen a massive upgrade to existing maps.
Large gameplay improvements have also been added, including new lighting, rendering, and an overhaul to returning maps like Italy, Overpass, and Zoo. Smoke grenades are now dynamic and can fill spaces and create volumetric 3D blooms. All players will now see the same bloom, which can be pushed with grenades and other forces.
The game also now allows you to have loadouts, complete with the ability to buy weapons and change things up in a match.
How long has Counter-Strike 2 been in development?
According to Lewis’ report, Counter-Strike 2 has been in the works for quite some time and has been a priority for Valve. The team includes minds from the wider franchise and their focus on it might explain why some bugs in CSGO have been left unattended for quite some time.
It is now in limited testing and it is important to stress that Counter-Strike 2 will not be a new game – it’ll be an update to CSGO to bring it onto the Source 2 engine and, if everything goes well, it won’t be that different from the one we play day in day out.
We’ll find out soon enough, though. It’s an exciting time to be a Counter-Strike fan. If you can’t wait to dive into it ahead of the Counter-Strike 2 release date, make sure to dust off your CSGO crosshair and practice clicking heads.
