Whether you like it or not, Valve wants you playing CS2.

Hop into a game of CS2 and it’ll feel very, very similar to CS:GO.

It’s to be expected right?

A group of players in Counter-Strike 2

Are you covering your allies' blind spot?

Is it time to rush B no stop?

Yes and absolutely 1000%, yes.

Cover image for YouTube video

It’s on the surface where the game’s most obvious change lies.

Gone are the days of walls with the texture of hummus and I’m here for it.

On the slightly-less-obvious-until-you-sling-one-across-a-map scale, grenades are more reactive to their surroundings.

A web where players pick and ban maps in the Premier mode of CS2.

There’s no Mac support.

No Arms Race or War Games.

No way in the console to go left-handed.

The player secures a triple kill with a pistol in CS2.

Fan favourite maps like Cache and Train are absent.

Again an example of how CS2’s updates will seem more substantial to some and barely present for others.

Movement isn’t quite as smooth and spraying with your weapon doesn’t feel as accurate.

The player points an AK at a smoke on Anubis in CS2.

For long-time fans and serious CS-heads, it seems like CS2 has some catching up to do.

But hey, I’m finding my matches of CS2 just as thrilling as before!

And I’m sure most players will, too.

The player aims the FAMAS past a fountain on Inferno in CS2.

Those with Prime Status unlock the competitive and premier modes, plus queues with other Prime members.

Cool, I guess.

Even so, if I’m being perfectly honest, I think my CS days are behind me.

The player points the M4A1-S at a smoke grenade on Inferno in CS2.

Give it time, though, and I think it’s onto something pretty special.

A player in Counter-Strike 2 inspects their knife in front of a wall with colourful graffiti on it.

Looking at the innards of a Prisma case in CS2.