Counter-Strike 2: release date, skins, news, and leaks

Counter-Strike 2, the highly anticipated sequel to one of the best PC games of all time, is almost here. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with all the essential information about the game, including release date, skins, news, and leaks.

Release Date

Valve has confirmed that Counter-Strike 2 will be released in Summer 2023 on Steam. The official beginning of Summer is usually marked by the June solstice, so the earliest possible release date for Counter-Strike 2 is Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

Limited Test

Counter-Strike 2 is currently playable, but access to the game is granted by Valve through a selection process. Valve determines the selection based on factors such as recent playtime on official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing. If you are selected, you will receive a message prompt when you launch CSGO.

Valve has revealed that some players who received automatic access to the limited test are competitive players, including those who have participated in major competitions or Valve’s own tournaments.

Here are the best Counter-Strike 2 servers. If you want to play, go to the site link.

Skins

Valve has confirmed that players will be able to bring their entire CSGO inventory, including skins, to Counter-Strike 2. The Source 2 engine upgrade has improved the lighting and visuals for stickers, weapons, models, and more, enhancing the appearance of every skin. Rest assured, your valuable skin collection worth thousands of dollars will be preserved.

The announcement of Counter-Strike 2 has caused a surge in demand for skins, resulting in a significant increase in prices. Players have been opening crates at an unprecedented rate, with nearly 40 million crates unboxed in March alone, surpassing the previous record of 27 million crates for CSGO. The demand for high-quality skins has led to a skyrocketing market, driving up the prices of expensive skins even further.

The latest CS2 update allows players to view CSGO skins within the new game’s engine. Many skins, especially valuable knife skins, have noticeable differences in Counter-Strike 2. This means that players can explore and admire various skins in the inspect menu without owning them.

News

Support files for CSGO2 and CS2 were discovered by dataminers in the Nvidia driver on March 1, initially fueling rumors about the game. Later, it was confirmed that Counter-Strike 2 is indeed in development. However, further analysis by Gabe Follower suggests that Valve may be working on a Source 2 port rather than an entirely new game.

Digging deeper into the CSGO code, Gabe Follower found that the upcoming game shares the same ID, 730, as the current CSGO. This indicates that Counter-Strike 2 may be launched as a new version integrated with CSGO, similar to the approach taken with DOTA 2 Reborn. Instead of being a separate game, it could be seamlessly accessible through the same button on Steam as CSGO.