Counter-Strike 2 Has Finally Been Released On Steam

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Abiyan

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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CS:GO recently celebrated its 11th anniversary ahead of the release of its successor, Counter-Strike 2. Last week, Valve teased Counter-Strike 2 would be released worldwide on Wednesday, and this teaser has not disappointed.

Following several months of beta testing, the game has now been made available on Steam, opening the doors to millions of new and returning CS:GO players.

Why it matters: CS:GO has been dominating the competitive first-person-shooter genre on PC for more than a decade, and it appears that the latest iteration of Counter-Strike will take the lead from here.

Valve has celebrated the release through a launch trailer.

Like its predecessor, Counter-Strike 2 is a free-to-play release, bringing a new version of the series on the Source 2 engine. The game shakes the core of the Counter-Strike formula, introducing changes like volumetric smokes, UI improvements, and more.

Since Counter-Strike 2 is an upgrade over CS:GO, the game has effectively replaced Valve’s last iteration of the franchise. While items from the inventory will carry over to the next game, some may find it disappointing that CS:GO is gone forever.

Counter-Strike 2 has very big shoes to fill, as CS:GO has been unstoppable in recent months. It has reached over 1 million concurrent players every month for over a year since last August.

Unsurprisingly, its successor is already off to a great start. Being a highly anticipated free-to-play release, the first-person shooter has already reached over 1.2 million players in the last 24 hours.

Those looking to enjoy Counter-Strike 2 can get started by downloading the game from Steam. PC users with CS:GO can go ahead and download a 27GB update to join the exciting new release.

After 11 exciting years, Valve has finally moved on from CS:GO.

The release of Counter-Strike 2 marks a new era for the popular franchise, introducing the IP to a new generation of players, leading to a new wave of talented competitive players, content creators, and more, continuing the strong legacy of this nearly 23-year-old franchise.

Abiyan

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

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