User:ElijahPepe/Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is a multiplayer tactical first-person shooter developed by Valve.

Gameplay
Counter-Strike 2 features a new competitive queue known as Premier. The mode reduces the number of rounds to a maximum of twelve per half. Teams are allowed to take turns selecting the map. After a player completes ten matches, they are given a rank that increases as they play more matches. Unlike Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012), ranks are split in Competitive by mode. Counter-Strike 2 adds the ability to buy back weapons and equipment. An update to Counter-Strike 2 during its beta added Global Offensive's Wingman gamemode.

Counter-Strike 2 abandons Global Offensive's weapon wheel for a grid layout with loadouts; players must choose a selection of fifteen weapons to bring during a match.

Development
In March 2023, several updates to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive suggested Valve was developing a sequel. A Nvidia driver update on March 2 contained references to executables presumed to be related to Counter-Strike 2 or a Source 2 port of Global Offensive. A Dota 2 (2013) update added a reference to jumpthrow binding, a competitive Global Offensive technique. A series of updates to Global Offensive was pushed to the pre-release branch as part of a limited test beta on March 14; one update added an executable named in the Nvidia driver update. On March 18, Valve filed for a trademark for CS2.

Counter-Strike 2 utilizes Valve's Source 2 engine. The game retains Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's maps, either rebuilding them in Source 2—as was done with "Overpass", retouching them with Source 2's lighting and physics technology—as was done with "Nuke", or slightly altering them—as was done with "Dust II". Graphical changes to Counter-Strike 2 include volumetric smoke, directional blood effects, audio and physics alterations, higher resolution models, and a user interface rewrite. Counter-Strike 2 changes the server-client architecture by supporting sub-tick updates. Files discovered in Counter-Strike 2's test files revealed additional weapons, skins, and announcers.

Nvidia Reflex, an anti-delay feature designed for older graphics cards, was added to Counter-Strike 2 in April.

Release and marketing
Counter-Strike 2 was announced on March 22, 2023 and released as a limited test for select users by playtime prior to the announcement. The game's reveal resulted in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive reaching an all-time concurrent player record. In April, Global Offensive case openings hit an all-time record.