Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is a tactical first-person shooter developed and published by Valve, released as a free upgrade replacing CS:GO in September 2023. Built on the Source 2 engine, it brings significant visual and technical improvements including responsive smoke grenades that interact with bullets and explosions, overhauled lighting, and updated maps.
The game retains the core competitive formula: two teams of five — Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists — compete across rounds where one side plants a bomb and the other defuses it. Players earn money through kills and objectives to buy weapons and equipment each round.
CS2 features a robust ranked matchmaking system, a premier mode with map selection, and an active esports scene. The CS:GO skin and item inventory carried over fully, making its weapon skin economy one of the largest in gaming.
