Counter-Strike 2 Officially Announced

Valve has officially announced Counter-Strike 2, and even provided a release window for the Summer of 2023

This was certainly a pleasant surprise. But, in the midst of all the CS:GO ESL Pro League Season 17 playoff action, Valve made a surprise reveal announcing Counter-Strike 2, dubbed CS2, which is set to release in the summer of 2023. This is definitely sooner than anyone expected and feels like barely enough time for the community to digest this massive unveiling.

Though no specific release date has been set, we do know that the game will run on Source Engine 2. And don't worry, the sequel will be a free upgrade to CS:GO, with all players' CS:GO items, such as skins, transferring over to Counter-Strike 2; much in the way Blizzard handled Overwatch 2. What's more exciting, is that players are able to get their hands on a playtest, starting today (details below).

Today we're excited to announce Counter-Strike 2. Counter-Strike 2 is an overhaul to every system, every piece of content, and every part of the C-S experience. First, let's talk about smoke grenades: pic.twitter.com/iTtguRHJ0S

— CS:GO (@CounterStrike) March 22, 2023

Counter-Strike 2 Playtest and Game Details

All the Playtest details for Counter-Strike 2 can be found here. But, from what we can gather, is that the players chosen for the CS2 playtest depend on “(but not limited to) recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing.” per the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test F.A.Q page. Nonetheless, if you are chosen, you will receive a notification on the main menu of CS:GO.

Aside from that, Valve released three videos to highlight some of the changes we can expect to see in CS2. The most intriguing is Leveling Up The World, which shows off the map changes and graphic overhauls. The other two cover the changes to Tick Rate and Smoke Grenades. However, more details will be released in the coming months and can be found on the new and official Counter-Strike 2 game page.

So, what's your take? Are you excited about CS2? What changes are you hoping to see implemented? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!