Let’s admit, we all saw it coming, didn’t we? We knew what to expect but still… the excitement and jubilation around Counter-Strike 2 is unlike any other!
With a completely revamped gameplay engine, overhauled graphics, and new features, CS2 has proven itself to be a game-changer FPS. Many players are buying stacked CS2 accounts just to experience the newly arrived game at its fullest!
As such, one cannot help but wonder what are all the biggest changes introduced in Counter-Strike 2. Therefore, in this article, we’ll take a look at some of the major changes made in CS2 and compare them with CSGO where possible.
Now without further ado, let’s begin.
CS2 vs CSGO: Major Changes
Modern Graphics
Graphics is the very first gameplay aspect that comes to mind when speaking of successor titles in the gaming world. Consequently, the visual overhaul in Counter Strike 2 is nothing short of breathtaking meticulously crafted environments as well as dynamic lighting that casts beautiful shadows across every map.
Thanks to the Source 2 engine, CS2 displays some of the best textures and animations we have ever seen in the Counter-Strike franchise. This leap in graphical fidelity not only catapults Counter-Strike into the present but also ensures that it doesn’t feel outdated in the slightest.
Responsive Smokes
CS2 also introduces a revolutionary game-changing twist to tactical warfare in Counter-Strike with its all-new responsive smokes. Forget the smoke mechanics you have come to know so far from CSGO as these 3D volumetric smokes in Counter Strike 2 react dynamically and realistically to player bullets.
For example, when you fire at the edges, the smoke disperses around it, revealing the area beyond it momentarily. You can also catch glimpses of enemy firing through the smoke as it now subsides temporarily when a bullet passes through it.
Consequently, this renders for an even more strategic gameplay and would be a turning moment in the global CS2 competitive eSport environment!
Dropped Weapon Sounds
And as if this was not enough to transform the CS2 battleground into an ever-evolving chessboard of strategy, Valve has now induced unique sounds for each weapon when it is dropped.
Of course, you have to be in range in order to listen to it. But still, knowing what your enemy has in their loadout can make a difference in winning and losing matches in CS2!
For instance, you can improvise your team strategy and form a better plan to tackle the enemy fire knowing that one of them just dropped an M249 machine gun for another of their teammate to pick up.
Mini-Map Feedback
Speaking of weapon sounds, there’s yet another eye-catching feature that’s just about to save many lives as it will take in Counter-Strike 2: Mini-Map Feedback!
As the name indicates, the mini-map on the corner of your screen will now give visual clues about the sounds being made in your surroundings. These can be any enemy footsteps running near you or bullet-fires just around the corner.
And just like the dropped weapon sounds, this mini-map feedback will also introduce a new layer of strategic warfare and bring new tactful gameplays in CS2.
An All-New MR12 Format
CSGO players are all too well aware of this. Previously, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive had a max of 30 rounds per match. Any team that managed to win the first 16 rounds was declared winner. In case it was a 15-15 tie, there was an overtime of additional rounds until one team won by a certain margin.
However, in CS2, the format is a bit different. Instead of MR15, the current format is MR12. In other words, there are a max of 24 rounds, with 12 rounds being the half-time. In case of a draw, there will be a 6-round overtime with 4 wins needed to secure victory.
Sub-Tick Servers
The introduction of sub-tick servers in Counter-Strike 2 is yet another interesting addition to the game. Because CSGO had 64-tick servers, many players expected CS2 to adopt 128-tick servers, much like the rival shooter games such as Valorant.
However, Valve opted for sub tick servers stating that this allows the game to track the movement and shooting of the players separately from the server refresh rate, which is 64 Hz. In other words, this means that CS2 can now update the player inputs more frequently and precisely, regardless of the server tick rate.
Player Shadow
While player shadows were also visible in CSGO, they could be configured in the settings option. To make things even for all, Valve opted to set the player shadow to “always on” and “always sharp”, regardless of the graphics settings.
Why does this matter? The player’s shadow can be seen from any distance as well as through smoke. When used tactfully, this can potentially give away the position of both enemies and allies. Moreover, these player shadows in CS2 are also affected by lighting and environment, rendering every step of a match round strategic and tactful.
Refundable Purchases
This quality-of-life improvement comes as a much-needed respite for players making wrong purchases. Unlike before, when you could not refund any purchases made unintentionally, Valve now lets you sell it back via the buy menu.
Needless to say, this feature will prevent many potentially frustrating moments for players and adds an extra layer of convenience to the game.
Competitive and Premier Modes
Continuing with the flow, both these Counter-Strike 2 gameplay modes are ranked except that the ranking evaluation system is different for each.
Veteran CSGO players will find themselves instantly familiar with the Competitive mode since it is essentially the same as CSGO ranked gameplay mode. The only difference is that, in CS2, there is a skill group evaluation for each map rather than one average overall skill group for all the maps.
Premiere mode is an all-new addition to the game. Instead of a skill group ranked system, there is a new rank evaluation process in Premiere known as CS rating. It is calculated in mere numbers going as far as 35,000. The higher the number, the higher the score.
Other Changes / Miscellaneous
And just like that, there are tons of other gameplay improvements and quality-of-life upgrades in Counter-Strike 2. Some notable examples include the live preview of graphic settings, a customizable chat wheel, improved gun sounds, realistic gunplay, a better user interface, and cool new skins!
Final Thoughts
Although it came about after a gigantic 30GB update to CSGO, do you think it is safe to say CS2 is a brand-new game on its own? Should CSGO have remained in existence and Counter-Strike 2 have its own launcher application? Share your thoughts with us and let us know in the comments below!
