"Counter-Strike 2" is now available for everyone
There have been many "Counter-Strike" games, but only now has the official successor arrived. After the closed beta, everyone can now play. "CS:GO" no longer exists.
23 years after the first version of "Counter-Strike", the second part is now being released. Valve presented "Counter-Strike 2" in March, but only selected people were allowed to play the game in the subsequent beta. Since Thursday, the game is now officially available on Steam and replaces "CS:GO".
Small changes with a big impact
Although "Counter-Strike 2" looks almost the same as the eleven-year-old "CS:GO" at first glance, a few things have changed. The biggest change is the switch to the new Source 2 engine. Among other things, it brings more realistic smoke physics, revised maps and improved lighting, which should make the gameplay more legible. The sound has also been upgraded to make it easier to locate enemies and events. There is also a new server architecture to prevent even the smallest delays. The "CS Rating" also gives you a new player ranking based on your performance. The changes sound marginal for a sequel, but for a popular and prestigious e-sports title like "Counter-Strike", they have a huge impact.
The following maps are included in the current version:
- Mirage
- Overpass
- Vertigo
- Ancient
- Inferno
- Nuke
- Anubis
- Dust 2
- Office
- Italy
There are no new maps or weapons yet. Over 1.3 million players are currently battling it out with AK-47s, M4A1-Ss and the Swiss SG 553 assault rifle, meaning that "Counter-Strike 2" once again occupies the top spot on Steam. <p
Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.