After much anticipation, Counter-Strike 2 has finally made its official debut, shedding the confines of its beta phase. For those eager to dive into this new chapter, here's an overview of what you need to know.
September 27, 2023 goes down in history as the official release date of CS2.
The Quest for a Successor
The Counter-Strike community has long speculated about the arrival of a successor to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) or, at the very least, a substantial overhaul of the game. Valve has now put these speculations to rest with the introduction of CS2. This is not merely an upgrade but a true follow-up to CS:GO. The good news is that players can hold onto their existing inventory, including weapons, knives, skins, and maps. However, some changes in these aspects may leave players with mixed feelings.
How to Start Playing
For those who were dedicated CS:GO players, this transition means bidding farewell to the familiar game title. Instead, CS2 will now be the name of the game. If you've been an ardent fan of CS:GO, brace yourself for a download size of approximately 27.6 gigabytes to begin your CS2 journey.
To start playing - simply launch Steam and you'll find that Counter-Strike 2 has replaced Counter-Strike Global Offensive.
Embracing Change
The anticipation for CS2 reached its peak when Valve initially announced it would launch in "Summer 2023." This led to widespread speculation that it might arrive in August. However, with September coming to a close, CS2 has transitioned out of its beta phase and is now accessible to all players.
Whether you participated in the limited CS2 test or not, you can now join the CS2 community. For players who already owned Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, updating the game through Steam is all that's required. However, if you find yourself in the minority of those who didn't own CS:GO, you can easily download CS2 as a fresh new game from the Steam marketplace.
CS2 brings about notable changes that may require some adaptation for CS:GO veterans. Adjusting monitor resolutions and acquainting oneself with different console commands are among the adjustments players will need to make. However, these changes are accompanied by the introduction of Premier ratings, offering players the opportunity to climb the leaderboards. While CS2 presents a somewhat new world, it still retains elements familiar to the Counter-Strike community.
