In a shocking announcement out of left-field, Valve has confirmed thatCounter-Strike 2is not only real, but due out in the later half of 2023. Following a series of rumors and leaks, the confirmation thatCounter-Strike 2is imminent comes as an incredibly welcomed surprise to the franchise’s millions of fans.
The last major iteration of Valve’s competitive multiplayer first-person shooter,Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, arrived in 2012, and was originally planned as a console port to the originalCounter-Strike. Noticing the considerable upgrades from its predecessor, Valve determined thatCounter Strike: Global Offensivewould be a standalone release running on an upgraded Source engine and boasting considerable visual and technical upgrades. The initial reception was positive, though it took years before the newer title would be adopted by themost hardcoreCounter-Strikefans, who were reticent to leave behind the original.
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On March 22, a website that Valve created forCounter-Strike 2went live out of the blue, showcasing the new game’s impressive advancements in fidelity and design. Running on the Source Engine 2, the studio claims thatCounter-Strike 2will be “the largest technical leap forward inCounter-Strike’shistory.” What is perhaps more enticing for fans is the fact that the new game will be a free upgrade for all owners ofCS:GOand all the cosmetic itemsin players' accounts will carry over as well. The announcement videos highlighted some of the overhauled and visually redesigned maps that players have been fragging each other on for years, as well as going in-depth on its update to the tick rate of matches, which should result in more consistent and less laggy games.
Earlier in March,rumors began to circulate with some credibility surrounding the existence ofCounter-Strike 2, and now that Valve has confirmed that the title will launch in the summer of 2023, fans are anxious to know more. While the announcement website provided a fairly thorough rundown of what to expect with the next iteration ofCounter-Strike,dedicated fans are sure to unearth more information in the months to come. What has been shown regarding the improved particle and lighting effects, tick rate, and redesigned maps all appear incredibly promising, and the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
CS:GOhas remained one of the most popular and relevant competitive tactical shootersfor over a decade, and this massive facelift for the game is being celebrated by its millions of fans worldwide. More information will be known soon as Valve rolls out its technical tests and betas, but until then, players will have to hone their skills inCS:GOahead ofCounter-Strike 2’s forthcoming release.
Counter-Strike 2will be released in the summer of 2023 for PC.
