March 22, 2023. A day that will forever be remembered in the history of Counter-Strike. Valve, in a move that no one quite expected, officially announced Counter-Strike 2, the highly anticipated successor to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
March 22, 2023. A day that will forever be remembered in the history of Counter-Strike. Valve, in a move that no one quite expected, officially announced Counter-Strike 2, the highly anticipated successor to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
With cinematic trailers showcasing revolutionary new volumetric smokes, a brand-new subtick system, and the long-awaited migration to the Source 2 engine, excitement in the Counter-Strike community reached an all-time high. It wasn’t just another update – it was marketed as the future of Counter-Strike, a completely free upgrade that would replace CS:GO. But now, exactly two years later, has CS2 truly lived up to the legacy of its predecessor? Or did Valve’s decision to rush its release leave a bitter taste in the mouths of both casual and professional players alike?
The Initial Hype – A Limited Test With Limited Access
The announcement of CS2 came alongside an exclusive Limited Test, which was very limited at first. Only a small fraction of players were granted access, leaving the rest of the community desperately refreshing their game client in hopes of receiving an invitation. Valve slowly expanded the player pool throughout 2023, but it was a long and frustrating process for many.
The beta itself was highly controlled, with Valve taking a slow, methodical approach to map testing. Instead of launching with a full map pool, they introduced them one by one, starting with Dust 2. This deliberate rollout was meant to ensure stability and polish, but it also meant that players couldn’t get the full CS2 experience for months.
Despite the limited access, the excitement was undeniable. The game looked visually stunning, the new smoke physics were unlike anything seen in an FPS before, and the move to Source 2 promised better optimization, smoother gameplay, and easier map development. Everything seemed promising – until the full release arrived.
The Forced Transition and the Fallout
Valve shocked the community when they suddenly replaced CS:GO with CS2 on September 27, 2023. There was no option to stay on CS:GO, no fallback for players who preferred the old mechanics. CS2 was now the only version available.
While casual players could (begrudgingly) adapt, the competitive scene was thrown into chaos. The Paris Major in May 2023 was the last CS:GO Major, and Valve opted not to hold a second Major that year, citing the transition to CS2. This decision had massive financial consequences for esports organizations, many of whom were already struggling. The loss of sticker money, combined with the uncertainty of adapting to an unfinished game, led to roster instability and financial hardships across the scene.
And then came the biggest issue: CS2 was not ready!
A Downgrade in Content – Missing Modes, Maps, and Features
Despite all the excitement leading up to its release, CS2 launched as a content-deficient version of CS:GO.
Gone were many of the beloved game modes
- Competitive, Casual, Wingman, and the new Premier Mode remained.
- Flying Scoutsman, Retakes, Arms Race, Demolition, and most notably, Danger Zone – all missing at launch.
The absence of Danger Zone, in particular, was a major blow. CS:GO’s battle royale mode had cultivated a dedicated fan base, and its complete removal left many disappointed. Valve slowly reintroduced content over time, but as of March 2025, only Arms Race has made a return.
The map pool also suffered significant losses:
- Train
- Cache
- Tuscan
- Cobblestone
- Assault
- Militia
- Agency
were all removed! Of these, only Train has returned so far, and has even replaced Vertigo in the active duty map pool.
Furthermore, there was the initial absence of the Steam Workshop at launch, preventing custom maps from being played. This left many players with the impression that Valve had rushed CS2’s release – perhaps to meet an internal deadline rather than to ensure a polished product.
The Early Months – A Cheater’s Paradise
If the missing content wasn’t bad enough, the cheating situation in early CS2 was miserable. With no proper anti-cheat-system, cheaters ran rampant. The game's integrity was in shambles.
CS2 STILL HAS CHEATERS pic.twitter.com/fKlO3lMGGf
— Tradeit (@tradeit_gg) March 18, 2025
Valve eventually stepped in, and over time, the situation improved, though at the highest ranks (particularly 25k+ rating in Premier Mode) encountering toggling cheaters or rage hackers still can be a frequent sight.
What CS2 Does Well – The Positives
Despite its rocky launch, CS2 isn’t all bad. In fact, some of its new features are genuinely fantastic:
- Volumetric Smokes – The new smoke physics are one of the best innovations in CS2. Being able to shoot through smokes, temporarily clear them with grenades, and use them dynamically adds an entirely new layer of strategy.
- The removal of Skyboxes – The removal of skyboxes has revolutionized utility usage. Players can now throw smokes and molotovs at spots, which was previously impossible. This change alone has elevated the skill ceiling and made strategic play more diverse.
- Source 2 Engine – While CS2 might not yet be better than CS:GO, its engine is far superior. Source 2 allows for better performance, improved graphics, and a much more efficient way to develop new maps. Over time, this will likely be CS2’s biggest strength.
But… the subtick system, which was supposed to improve responsiveness, has largely been seen as a failure. Many players feel it’s inferior to CS:GO’s 128-tick servers. Peeker’s advantage is much worse than it was in CS:GO, making gunfights feel inconsistent.
As of March 2025, many in the community are still calling for a return to a standard 128-tick system.
CS2’s Future – Will It Eventually Surpass CS:GO?
Despite all the frustration, CS2 still has immense potential. It has the advantage of being built on a modern engine, and if Valve keeps listening to community feedback and bringing back beloved features and game modes, it could very well become the best version of Counter-Strike we’ve ever seen.
Until then, CS2 remains a game of untapped potential, still standing in the shadow of its legendary predecessor.