Counter-Strike 2 Guide

A new era of Counter-Strike is here. While CS2's maps, features, and mechanics will be familiar to CS:GO players, the game has been overhauled to its very bones. With new environmental lighting, map reworks, and dynamic effects such as smoke grenades or blood splatter, the way you play CS:GO has evolved.

Do CS:GO Skins Carry Over?

Yes - all of your weapon finishes, stickers, and other inventory items from CS:GO will be available in Counter-Strike 2.

What is New in Counter-Strike 2?

The most important question remains, what is the difference from CS:GO and the new Counter-Strike 2? Right off the bat, you should notice a huge technical leap forward in this rendition of the Counter-Strike franchise. Environmental lighting and detail rendering have been massively improved, transforming the often dark and gritty locales of CS:GO into a much cleaner and colorful world.

Perhaps some of the most noticeable improvements and additions in Counter-Strike 2 include:

• Responsive smoke
• Sub-tick updates
• Map upgrades and improvements
• VFX and UI improvements
• New Source 2 Item Workshop

What does responsive smoke mean? In Counter-Strike 2, the smoke clouds generated from smoke grenades are "dynamic volumetric objects". Smoke clouds now react to fit their environment, spilling out of openings such as windows or doors, or filling up long spaces like corridors instead of just remaining in a fixed area.

Dynamic smoke also means that it reacts not only to the environment, but to any changes in the environment. Explosions and gunfire now have the ability to pierce through smoke grenade clouds, creating holes and brief openings to see what dangers might lurk on the other side.

Counter-Strike 2 introduces a new sub-tick update system, with the intention of creating more accurate and precise combat. By shortening the time between your inputs and the in-game tick rate, every shot you take will count.

What about the CS:GO maps you know and love? Don't worry, they're not going anywhere. In Counter-Strike 2, all of the classic CS:GO maps make a reappearance, but this time with some tweaks.

Some maps are completely overhauled, maintaining the bare bones of the map structure while remodeling much of the finer details. Others will simply be upgraded by introducing Counter-Strike 2's new physically based rendering system or by simply revamping the environmental lighting.

CS2 Workshop Maps

Workshop maps are not currently available in Counter-Strike 2, but Valve has shared details of the upcoming Source 2 Item Workshop, which will provide players with new tools for map creation in Counter-Strike 2, allowing you to create and play community maps.