Counter-Strike 2 will deliver an enormous technical overhaul to the basic shooter

Valve Software program has introduced a sequel to one in all its most storied video games. Counter-Strike 2 will launch this summer season after just a few months of testing inside the on-line shooter’s group.

Counter-Strike started as a mod for Half-Life again in 1999. It was acquired by Half-Life developer Valve Software program and launched as a business product in 2000. There have been three subsequent releases: Counter-Strike: Situation Zero and Counter-Strike Supply in 2004, and Counter-Strike: International Offensive in 2012.

Counter-Strike: International Offensive (normally shortened to simply “CS:GO“) is at the moment the flagship Counter-Strike recreation, however that can change this summer season.

Counter-Strike 2 under no circumstances affords a elementary change to the unique recreation’s design. In actual fact, will probably be free, and it is meant to exchange CS:GO. Greater than anything, Counter-Strike 2 seems to be a major technical overhaul of CS:GO.

For instance, Valve will introduce enhancements to lighting and different results throughout the sport’s numerous maps. Every map has obtained one in all three ranges of clearly outlined updates. “Touchstone” maps like Dust2 will hold the very same geometry and options as their CS:GO counterparts however with some enhancements to lighting or supplies. “Improve” maps use Valve’s new Supply 2 lighting, bodily primarily based rendering, and different trendy options for notably improved graphics. And “Full Overhaul” maps will likely be rebuilt from the bottom up with new geometry and options.

Moreover, Valve will overhaul how smoke works within the recreation. Smoke grenades are a key a part of the gameplay in all variations of Counter-Strike. Now these grenades will produce bodily rendered, malleable volumetric smoke that responds extra naturally to lighting, geometry, and objects passing by means of it. This one change is more likely to have an effect on precise aggressive gameplay than most different modifications Valve has introduced up to now.

The opposite main gameplay-relevant replace is a brand new system that makes sure actions (transferring, taking pictures, and throwing) extra exact by monitoring them sooner than the tick fee of the sport. In on-line multiplayer video games, consumer and server updates about state modifications are made on a selected tick fee—say, 64 or 128. In a recreation as fast-paced and exact as Counter-Strike, this might sometimes result in edge circumstances the place there have been significant discrepancies between shoppers. Valve hasn’t gone into an excessive amount of element but, however it claims this challenge (which is widespread in on-line multiplayer video games) will likely be resolved in Counter-Strike 2.

Valve says extra modifications or new options will likely be introduced later, however these are the most important ones we all know in the present day.

A non-public, invite-only check of the brand new model of Counter-Strike 2 begins in the present day. Valve says it is going to step by step invite extra folks over time within the lead-up to the summer season launch, selecting individuals primarily based on elements like playtime. The preliminary check of Counter-Strike 2 contains solely “Deathmatch and Unranked Aggressive matchmaking on Dust2,” however extra content material will likely be added sooner or later. Participant unlocks and progress will carry over to Counter-Strike 2, together with within the preview interval.

Valve hasn’t given the general public launch of Counter-Strike 2 a exact date simply but—simply summer season 2023.

Itemizing picture by Valve Software program