Summary
Counter-Strike 2has arrived, givingCounter-Strike: Global Offensivefans the Source 2 engine upgrade that has been anticipated since Valve portedDota 2to it in 2015. There is a lot to take in with the new update: tweaked mechanics, improved visuals, a streamlined interface, and overhauled utilities.
TheCounter-Strike 2update is a landmark in the history of the franchise, but there are a number of key features and game modes missing fromCounter-Strike 2that make the facelifted tactical shooter a little disappointing, which is reminiscent of howOverwatch 2launched after it replaced the firstOverwatchin a similar fashion. This doesn’t undermine the significance of the update, and it is very likely that Valve will add new features to the game in due course.
RELATED:Counter-Strike 2 Debuts With Impressive Player Numbers
No Good Answers Yet For Missing CS:GO Content
Valve could create a separate new listing in Steam forCS:GOand all the content associated with it, but much like hoping for a vanillaOverwatchrerelease, this is probably wishful thinking. Right now there is a version ofCS:GOavailable through theCounter-Strike 2Beta menu, but Valve could remove that at any time. It may also have reduced functionality since it is no longer officially supported.
One of the biggest features missing fromCounter-Strike 2is Steam Workshop maps.CS:GOhad a vibrant community of fans who would create content for the game. All of that content presumably will not work in the Source 2 engine, and unless Valve has a novel way of porting the Workshop en masse, it seems unlikely that it will return as it was before.Counter-Strike 2seems to have fixed some issuesbut has arrived with some of its own.
Why Valve May Have Replaced CS:GO
There are a few good reasons for Valve replacingCS:GOrather than havingCounter-Strike 2as a separate game entirely. One of these reasons is the skins, some of which have ridiculous market values. These have been carried over toCounter-Strike 2.Account bans have also been carried over, meaning those who cheated inCS:GOare not welcome inCounter-Strike 2.
Had Valve not carried the skins over a lot of people would have been upset. The market would likely be in turmoil, and sharing the skins across two games doesn’t seem like it would work that well. The player base would also be divided. Most players would probably be curious enough to try out the newer game, but it’s likely that more than a few would have stuck withCS:GOuntil anyCounter-Strike 2launch issues are taken care of.
Overwatch 2playerswho have been playing since the first iteration of the game can commiserate with unhappyCounter-Strikefans. Regardless of how sensible the decision to replace the old game might be, there are people who prefer being able to go back toCS:GO,so they can play some of the game modes that are absent fromCounter-Strike 2.
Coutner-Strike 2 is the Same, But Different
Counter-Strike 2might be treading down a similar launch path asOverwatch 2, but overall is faring somewhat better as far as launches go.Overwatch 2had such a bad launchdue to (among other things) server issues that the community made light of through memes, whileCounter-Strike 2has mostly been criticized for its missing features.
Perhaps due to novelty, there is a consistent increase in theamount of people playingCounter-Strike 2since launch compared toCS:GOin the weeks prior.Counter-Strike 2has yet to beatCS:GO’s record of over 1.8 million, but the community seems to be taking the change in stride overall. One can only hope that Valve has a plan for workshop content, or at the very least has a big feature update planned forCounter-Strike 2, much like Blizzard did forOverwatch 2.
