Valve is releasing Counter-Strike 2 as a free upgrade to CS:GO this summer
Valve has officially announced Counter-Strike 2. This first person shooter is based on the Source 2 engine and gets improved maps and a significantly better tick rate compared to CS: GO. The shooter will be released this summer as a free upgrade for CS:GO.
Counter Strike 2 gets several improvements over Global Offensive. Valve speaks on Twitter about an “overhaul of every system, piece of content, and every part of the Counter-Strike experience.” The studio shares details about three such improvements. The maps in the game, among other things, will receive upgrades and revisions that “use all new Source 2 tools and rendering features.” In its own words, the developer used three approaches.
The first approach Valve calls ‘touchstone’, which was used on ‘classic maps with good foundations. These maps will receive lighting and character read improvements, but otherwise remain unchanged. For the second approach, certain playing fields are ‘upgraded’. These use updated Source 2 lighting with an improved rendering system for realistic materials, lighting effects and reflections. The oldest playing fields have also been completely rebuilt with Source 2.
An example of a folder that has been completely rebuilt: Overpass. Left Counter-Strike 2, right Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike 2’s tick rate should also be significantly better than CS:GO’s. The tick rate dictates how quickly certain actions, such as shooting or moving, are evaluated by the game server. That happens at specific times, called ticks, and the time between different ticks “doesn’t exist,” Valve says. A low tick rate can therefore cause delays. Counter-Strike 2 gets a system with sub-tick updates for this. According to Valve, servers therefore know the exact moment when a player moves or fires a shot. The server calculates what actions players perform between ticks.
Smoke is also being improved in Counter-Strike 2. Smoke grenades are now dynamic, volumetric objects that react to the environment, such as lighting, shots, and explosions. For example, smoke can be temporarily blown away by shots and grenades. Smoke must also naturally fill a room and can also seep through doorways and broken windows. Furthermore, the UI and audio have also been revised for CS:2. Source 2 tools will also be available to community members who create their own maps.
Valve will now begin limited playtesting of Counter-Strike 2, the company writes on the new game’s website. That test version will be available for a small number of CS:GO players, that are selected based on factors such as the amount of recent play time on official Valve CS servers, the “trust factor”, and Steam account status. Selected users will be notified in the CS:GO main menu. In time, more players will be added to the test version.
Counter-Strike 2 will be officially available on Steam this summer. The game will then become a free upgrade from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Users will keep their inventory of skins after the switch. Valve says it will share details about “all new features in the game” at the official release this summer.