The gaming world of Counter-Strike 2 sees a series of impactful updates and improvements, from the introduction of new maps to important changes in the VAC system. With a goal of offering an enriched user experience, these enhancements touch on various game components, like the workshop tools, weapon configurations, animation and more.
Maps
- Dust II is replaced by Mirage on the official Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test matchmaking servers.
Workshop tools
- The introduction of Counter-Strike 2 Workshop Tools: available for enabling and downloading via the in-game settings menu. These tools provide community contributors the capability to design weapon finishes, stickers, and maps.
- However, the Steam Community Workshop currently does not support uploading CS2 maps.
- The Hammer level editor now leverages GPU accelerated raytracing to preview and bake lighting for CS2 maps. This notably accelerates compile times, but it necessitates a GPU capable of raytracing for Hammer to be fully functional.
Hammer GPU minimum specs:
- Nvidia 2060Ti 6gb (2080Ti+ recommended)
- AMD 6600XT (6800XT+ recommended)
Weapons
Changes in the player loadout:
- Players now have 1 Starting Pistol slot, 4 Pistol slots, 5 Mid-tier slots (previously “SMGs” and “Heavy”), and 5 Rifle slots, per team.
- It is possible to assign any (side-appropriate) weapon to any slot within its category.
- The redesigned system supports drag-and-drop and fits into a single screen.
Updates to the in-game buy menu interface:
- The wheel is replaced by a grid displaying all purchase options simultaneously.
- Teammate purchases are now visible on the buy menu.
- Weapon “stats” display is replaced with simple, straightforward descriptions.
- Players can refund any purchase that was bought in the same round and has not been used.
Steam Community Market CS:GO items can now be inspected in Counter-Strike 2.
Sub-tick
- The precision of sub-tick movement has been improved and feels less “floaty” (as per player feedback).
- Releasing movement keys now accurately 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
- Improvement in 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 have been made 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 are 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
- Performance and responsiveness in windowed and full-screen windowed modes are improved.
- Several bugs and rendering artifacts have been fixed.
Input
- Bug causing input to become permanently broken when multiple commands were bound to one key is fixed. 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.
- Bug causing input to execute incorrectly after taking over a bot in practice mode is fixed.
- Inspecting weapons is now predicted on the client for a more responsive experience.
VAC
- VAC now issues live bans and gracefully terminates 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 who were not lobbied with the VAC-banned player will earn XP for the match.