It has been announced that Counter-Strike 2, which is set to be released in the summer of 2023, will provide a substantial upgrade to the already existing CS:GO. Although CS:GO initially required payment, it later became a free-to-play game, leading some to question whether the sequel would be paid in its early stages.
Fortunately, everyone will be able to play Counter-Strike 2 for free, but players who do not have Prime status in CS:GO will need to pay for it. Aside from that, the game will be accessible to everyone upon release.
Counter-Strike 2 will be free for all players on release
One of the most significant new features in Counter-Strike 2 is the Source 2 game engine, which was utilized in Valve’s VR game Half Life: Alyx. This engine has demonstrated significant improvements in both visual quality and overall gameplay experience.
When Counter-Strike Global Offensive was first released, the layout of the map was completely different from version 1.6. With CS2, the classic maps will remain exactly the same as they were in CS:GO. However, the only noticeable difference will be the visuals, which are brighter and moodier in the newer game.
In addition, players will also experience a new smoke system that interacts with gunfire and explosions. The smokes in CS2 will have their own 3D volumetric system, which is a first for the series and for competitive shooters in general. This innovation will transform how players approach smoked situations in competitive matches, and introduce more immersion.
Read more: The Top 5 Most Iconic Villains in Video Games
Valve has also unveiled brand new 128-tick official servers, which will be more responsive than the previous 64-tick servers. This means that players’ shots and movements will be reflected exactly in the game, as requested by players for a long time. This feature will make its debut this summer, and players are eagerly anticipating it.