Counter-Strike 2 is FINALLY OUT TODAY free to play! You can play it now!

September 27, 2023 PCgeek

If you are a fan of the legendary first-person shooter series Counter-Strike, you are in for a treat. Valve has just announced that Counter-Strike 2, the long-awaited sequel/free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is now available for PC players on Steam. You can download and play it right now for free!

Counter-Strike 2 is not a separate game, but rather a major update to CS:GO that brings a lot of improvements and changes to the core gameplay. The game runs on the Source 2 engine, the same engine used for Dota 2 and Half-Life: Alyx, which allows for better graphics, physics, and performance. Some of the new features include:

Upgraded lighting, materials, and mapmaking tools
Overhauled and updated maps, as well as relatively unchanged “touchstone” maps such as Dust 2
All-new look and behavior for visual effects like fire, bullet tracers, and muzzle flashes
A new ranking system called CS Rating
Reworked audio
A new “tickless” server architecture that offers more precise and responsive gameplay

Counter-Strike 2 also introduces the ability for players to refund their weapons if they accidentally purchased the wrong item, which is a welcome addition for many players. Moreover, all items from CS:GO move forward to CS2, so you don’t have to worry about losing your precious skins and progress.

Counter-Strike 2 is the fourth major release in Valve’s first-person shooter series. The original game, based on a mod for Valve’s Half-Life, launched in 2000. Valve followed that with Counter-Strike: Source in 2004, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2012. More than 10 years after its initial release, CS:GO remains incredibly popular; the free-to-play game is regularly the most-played title on Steam. CS:GO hit an all-time concurrent player record earlier this year, with more than 1.5 million simultaneous players on Steam¹.

Counter-Strike 2 aims to continue the legacy of the series and offer a fresh and exciting experience for both new and veteran players. The game has been in an invite-only “Limited Test” for several months, with some pro players and streamers giving their feedback and impressions. The general consensus seems to be positive, with many praising the game’s improved visuals, mechanics, and performance.

However, some players have also reported some technical issues and bugs with the game, such as crashes, glitches, and compatibility problems. Valve has been working hard to fix these issues and provide a smooth launch for everyone. The developer has also promised to keep supporting and updating the game with new content and features in the future.

If you want to try out Counter-Strike 2 for yourself, you can download it now on Steam for free. You just need to have CS:GO installed on your PC, and you will get access to CS2 automatically. You can also buy a Prime Status Upgrade for $15 that grants you exclusive items, item drops, and weapon cases, as well as making you more likely to matchmake with other Prime Status players.

Counter-Strike 2 is a huge milestone for the series and the FPS genre in general. It offers a new chapter and a new challenge for millions of players around the world. Whether you are a casual or a competitive player, you will find something to enjoy in this game. So what are you waiting for? Grab your mouse and keyboard, join your friends or make new ones online, and get ready for some intense action in Counter-Strike 2!