Valve has just surprised fans by officially confirming Counter-Strike 2, uploading three new videos that provide details on the improvements and changes that fans can expect.
These videos concentrate on the world, tick rate, and responsive smokes. They also reveal that Counter-Strike 2 will be available in Summer 2023. You can watch the full “Leveling Up The World” video on Valve’s official YouTube channel here:
It may be hard to believe, but Counter-Strike: Global Offensive first launched over a decade ago. And yet, despite its dated graphics, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive remains one of the most popular games in the genre both for casual gamers and the eSports scene.
There is a purity in its tactical gameplay, with a low TTK (time-to-kill) and maps that are dedicated to interesting lines of sight. Assuming that Counter-Strike 2 doesn’t cast aside any of those winning components, and expands the gameplay in a natural way, it is almost guaranteed to succeed. It could even have the potential to gradually replace the original altogether.
So, it feels just a little anticlimactic for Valve to quietly upload a couple of videos about the sequel’s upcoming features. One might have expected a massive reveal trailer. Maybe Valve is feeling a little burned by the leaks and rumors leading up to today, or maybe they didn’t feel it was necessary. After all, the reveal of Counter-Strike 2 is monumental either way.
Fans should be very pleased with the map changes that were announced today. Longtime players will still have access to a more traditional CS: GO experience, while maps that have been radically changed will be available separately.
It’s a smart way to ease older players into the new era, while meeting expectations of modern audiences. The visual improvements are staggering, with gorgeous reflections and lighting that mostly retains the feeling of the original.
Along with the improved smoke physics, and sub-tick updates, this sequel could easily be a more immersive and satisfying elaboration on everything that made Counter-Strike great.
You can read more about Counter-Strike 2, Valve, and other upcoming shooters by checking out the rest of our news section.
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