A promotional video from Valve detailing the method to map reworks in Counter-Strike 2.
Valve Software program has introduced a sequel to one in every of its most storied video games. Counter-Strike 2 will launch this summer time after a couple of 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: Global Offensive (often shortened to simply “CS:GO“) is at the moment the flagship Counter-Strike sport, however that can change this summer time.
Counter-Strike 2 not at all gives a elementary change to the unique sport’s design. Actually, it will likely 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 every of 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 fashionable options for notably improved graphics. And “Full Overhaul” maps will likely be rebuilt from the bottom up with new geometry and options.
Valve’s video explaining volumetric smoke in Counter-Strike 2.
Moreover, Valve will overhaul how smoke works within the sport. 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 it. This one change is more likely to have an effect on precise aggressive gameplay than most different adjustments Valve has introduced to this point.
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 adjustments are made on a selected tick fee—say, 64 or 128. In a sport as fast-paced and exact as Counter-Strike, this might often result in edge instances the place there have been significant discrepancies between shoppers. Valve hasn’t gone into an excessive amount of element but, but it surely claims this difficulty (which is widespread in on-line multiplayer video games) will likely be resolved in Counter-Strike 2.
Valve’s video explaining tick-rate adjustments in Counter-Strike 2.
Valve says extra adjustments or new options will likely be introduced later, however these are the most important ones we all know immediately.
A non-public, invite-only check of the brand new model of Counter-Strike 2 begins immediately. Valve says it would regularly invite extra individuals over time within the lead-up to the summer time launch, selecting contributors 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 time 2023.
Itemizing picture by Valve Software