In case there was any doubt, it appears that Valve still hasn’t learned how to count to 3.  They have just announced a new CounterStrike game but they are calling it CounterStrike 2 because why not?

I make fun of Valve for not being able to count to three (no Team Fortress 3, Half-Life 3, Portal 3, Dota 2, Left 4 Dead 3, ect), but I am seriously excited about the news of CounterStrike 2!

When I am bored and have some time to kill, I often find myself playing some CounterStrike: Global Offensive.  I think CS:GO is one of my all time favorite multiplayer shooters.  So when I saw this unexpected news, I got really excited.

So what have they said about CS2? (Not Photoshop)

First of all, and perhaps the most exciting part is that it is going to be a FREE upgrade to CS:GO!  Another thing that is sure to excite CS players is that all of their CS:GO inventory will transfer over to CS2.  And they will take advantage of the new technology like improved lighting and materials.  All of the stock weapons are getting a high-res upgrade.

“Counter-Strike 2 is the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike’s history, ensuring new features and updates for years to come,” said Valve. “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.”

There are a number of really cool updates coming to the game, some which might be more subtle like sub-tick updates but others that are going to bring a whole new dynamic to the game like more realistic smoke effects.

If you want to check out some of the new upgrades in action including changes to maps, check out the videos below.

What are you most excited about?  Are you looking forward to the free upgrade to CS:GO?  Let me know in the comments below!

Share this with any CounterStrike fans you know!  Make sure to follow me on Mastodon at @[email protected]