Counter-Strike 2: Finally a new map, but it comes at a price

Counter-Strike 2 has been in the closed testing phase for quite some time. So far only one map was playable, the well-loved classic Dust2. But even the best card gets on your nerves at some point. With the new update, Valve is providing a remedy and is still turning a few other screws.

To date, Counter-Strike is one of the most popular online shooters ever. Global Offensive has been online since 2012, the current version. But in March, the long-awaited Counter-Strike 2 started a closed test phase, in which you have only been on one map so far: Dust2. Not the worst choice, but every card wears out eventually.

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But Valve has good news for those lucky enough to have access to the game. With Mirage, another fan favorite finds its way onto the test servers. However, you have to put up with an unpleasant circumstance: Dust2 is out for the time being. So you still have to be satisfied with a single map.

But the first major update for Counter-Strike 2 also changes a few other things. Valve has revised the purchase menu, all fans of the circle menu must be very strong now. This is a thing of the past, instead you can expect a selection screen similar to that of Valorant. But you can adjust your loadout in the main menu and decide which weapons can be found there. There is also a refund option that you can use to reverse a bad purchase within the purchase period.

With the Workshop tools, Counter-Strike 2 now also offers more customization options and opportunities to create your own content. For example, Valve names weapon finishes, stickers and maps.

This is not the end of the update yet, the patch notes are more than extensive. For example, there are changes to smoke grenades, animations, and the sub-tick system.

The extensive list of changes can be found below in English:

[ WEAPONS ]

• The player loadout has been revised:
  • Players have 1 Starting Pistol slot, 4 Pistol slots, 5 Mid-tier slots (previously “SMGs” and “Heavy”), and 5 Rifle slots, per team.
  • Assign any (side-appropriate) weapon to any slot within its category.
  • Supports drag-and-drop and has been redesigned to fit in on a single screen.

• The in-game buy menu interface has been revised:
  • The wheel has been replaced with a grid showing all purchase options at the same time.
  • Teammate purchases are displayed on the buy menu.
  • Weapon “stats” display has been replaced with simple straightforward descriptions.
  • Players can now refund any purchase that was purchased in the same round and has not been used.

• Existing CS:GO items on the Steam Community Market can be inspected in Counter-Strike 2.

[ SUB-TICK ]

• Sub-tick movement is now more precise and less “floaty” (per player-feedback).
• Releasing movement keys now correctly convey their sub-tick timing.
• The top player of a triple-stack can now shoot.
• Fine-tuned weapon aim punch recovery to be latency-independent during sub-tick recovery on the client.
• Fine-tuned view punch camera shake effect during shooting to be both latency-independent and synchronized with all other sub-tick shooting effects on the client.

[ VOLUMETRIC SMOKE ]

• Improved lighting/rendering when smoke overlaps multiple distinctly lit regions.
• HE grenade effect times on smoke has been reduced.
• Shotguns now create larger holes in smoke volumes.

[ ANIMATION ]

• Adjustments to the viewmodel ‘inspect’ to remove animation popping.
• Several viewmodel and blending animation fixes.
• Improved traversal animation.
• Jumping into the air and running off a ledge is now differentiated to allow for separate character motion.

[ SOUND ]

• Player’s own footstep sounds are now predicted on the client for a latency-independent experience.

[ RENDERING ]

• Improved performance and responsiveness in windowed and full-screen windowed modes.
• Fixed several bugs and rendering artifacts.

[ INPUT ]

• Fixed bug that would cause input to become permanently broken when multiple commands were bound to one key. Multi-binds are back, except for jump-throw binds (which are now a skillful part of CS).
• Commands bound to mouse wheels will now be reliably executed.
• Fixed bug that would cause input to execute incorrectly after taking over a bot in practice mode.
• Inspecting weapons is now predicted on the client for a more responsive experience.

[ VAC ]

• VAC will now live ban and gracefully terminate the match at the end of the round (unless it was the last round and the cheater lost).
• The match will not affect any participants’ Skill Group.
• Players that were not lobbied with the VAC-banned player will earn XP for match.