The release of Counter-Strike 2 almost took us by surprise. There was some chatter going on about the release of a new game a few weeks ago but now we have a full release on our hands. Valve didn’t stop with a promotional video, no sir. There’s a proper features list and beta testing going on before the final release. Here’s everything we know about Counter-Strike 2.
5 new features in Counter-Strike 2
Bigger and better than before!
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Responsive smokes
The smokes will now occupy volumetric spaces and react to external factors such as gunfire, explosions, and lighting. The smoke grenade is a hot topic right now within the community. It can now interact with other gameplay occurrences like bullets and explosive grenades. Frag grenades can push smoke to briefly clear sightlines giving you a peek behind the foggy curtain for a chance to shoot down a sorry fella.
And, the smoke can move too, it will seep out of opened doorways and broken windows, go down and up stairs, as well as expand in long corridors and combine with other smokes. The smoke particles work with the unified lighting system allowing for more realistic light and colour.
Sub-tick updates
Counter-Strike 2 has pretty much removed the tick rate. Yup, that’s right. The sub-tick update architecture is said to allow improved gameplay. Servers will now know the exact instant as soon as you trigger a specific function, fire a shot or throw a ‘nade. As a result, irrespective of tick rate, your moving and shooting will be equally responsive.
Better, Brighter Maps
Some classic CS maps will be updated and others will be fresh. However, the overhauled maps have been fully rebuilt from the ground up with the new Source 2 tools and rendering features. The upgraded maps will use new Source 2 lighting, including a physically based rendering system that produces realistic materials, lighting, and reflections.
It’s bright and more colourful compared to the bleak colour palette of CS:GO.
HI-DEF VFX
Counter-Strike 2 has got a complete overhaul, including fresh visual effects throughout the HUD. It will have a novel look and behaviour for water, explosions, fire, smoke, muzzle flashes, bullet tracers and impact effects using Source 2 lighting and particle system. Bullet impacts may be plainly visible at a distance, while directional blood hits (that fade with time) provide you extra information as you move around the world. It will also tell you when you ace the round, something Valorant does well.
Reworked, Reverbed Audio
The audio has been reworked to be more immersive and stuff. However, they have been rebalanced to enhance listening comfort. Hopefully, no more sharp spikes in audio. Oh and you can also bring your CS:GO inventory with you to Counter-Strike 2 and they’ll also benefit from Source 2 lighting and materials. Plus, all stock weapons have been upgraded with high-resolution models and some weapon finishes take advantage of these new models.