CS:GO sequel finally announced with release window

Folks, this is not a drill. Counter-Strike 2 has officially been revealed, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say: it’s about time.

It's been almost 11 long years since the release of CS:GO. Announced by the official Counter-Strike account on Twitter, Counter-Strike 2 is officially in development, and it’ll be released as a free upgrade for CS:GO players this summer. In fact, some select players can play it now.

"Today we're excited to announce Counter-Strike 2. Counter-Strike 2 is an overhaul to every system, every piece of content, and every part of the C-S experience," the Counter-Strike account wrote.

Over on the Counter-Strike website, the sequel has been described as “the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike’s history”, and the devs promise it'll include “new features and updates for years to come”. So don’t go expecting another game for another decade, probably.

“All of the game’s new features will be revealed when it officially launches this summer, but the road to Counter-Strike 2 begins today as a Limited Test for select CS:GO players. During this testing period, we’ll be evaluating a subset of features to shake out any issues before the worldwide release,” the website reads. “Counter-Strike 2 arrives this summer as a free upgrade to CS:GO. So build your loadout, hone your skills, and prepare yourself for what’s next!”

As for what players can expect, tick rate is being abolished altogether as the game will soon use “sub-tick update architecture”, which will allow servers to know the moment players do anything. As described on the website, “regardless of tick rate, your moving and shooting will be equally responsive and your grenades will always land the same way”. What’s more, maps have been rebuilt from the ground up, the visuals have been redesigned, and the audio has been reworked. That’s not to mention the revamped Smoke Grenades, which will react to the world and environment in a much more dynamic way than before.

There’s plenty more to be announced about Counter-Strike 2, but it already sounds like it’s going to be a huge upgrade for existing fans. We’ll have to watch this space for further updates.