If you're tired of standard matches or looking for a way to express yourself, it will be very useful to know where the Workshop is in CS2. There you can find a huge number of maps made by fellow CS players like you, play on them, try out unofficial skins on your weapons, or enjoy an interesting mod.
You might ask — why do I need this? First of all, it's a great way to spend time. The variety of content in the CS2 Workshop eliminates boredom and gives you a chance to see the game from new, previously unknown angles.
Another thing worth mentioning is communication. Exploring new gameplay together can be a lot of fun for you and your friends, and can even become the start of a friendship with completely new people.
And of course, you can create things there. If there’s something you don’t like in the original game or you want to do it your own way — go for it. CS2 developers are always looking for new and interesting skins and maps to include in the game. Their authors get paid for their work. So you have a chance not only to show your talent, but also to make good money from it.
Where to Find the Workshop in CS2
There are 2 ways to access it. One of them, in our opinion, is faster and requires less effort because it doesn’t involve many steps or mouse clicks. So let’s start with it:
Launch the Steam app on your computer and log in.
Look at the top of the screen where the main menu bar is. Find “Community” (if your account is in English). Click on it.
In the dropdown list, find “Workshop” and click on it.
Now you need the search bar. Tip: it's located below the header on the right-hand side. Enter "Counter Strike 2" and start the search.
That’s it — you’ve entered the CS2 Workshop.
Let’s consider another option. As usual, start by launching Steam and logging in. This time, instead of going to “Community”, choose “Library”. Look on the left side of the screen. If everything is done correctly, you should see a list of all your games. Then find CS2 there and click on it. Below the “Play” button is a menu where you’ll find the “Workshop”. Tip: look to the right side of the screen. Click on the tab and proceed to the destination.
Where Are the Workshop Maps in CS2
If you used one of the methods to enter the Workshop described above, let’s assume you’re already there. Now we’ll show you where to look for maps.
Look at the tabs under the game banner. One of them should be “Browse”. That’s where you need to go — click on it. In the menu that appears, select “Maps”. You’ll see all maps created by CS players. You can click on names, read descriptions, look at designs, and of course, play. You can add maps you like to favorites by clicking the “Subscribe” button, so you don’t have to search for them again.
Keep in mind that not much time has passed since the CS2 Workshop launched. Same goes for the game itself. Also, the new version of Counter-Strike uses a modernized game engine. Old maps won’t work on it. First, creators have to remake the maps for the new engine and reupload them to the Workshop. However, this is not a quick process, so not all formerly popular maps are currently available in CS2.
How to Install Workshop Maps in CS2
You can’t just instantly play on a map you liked. In the new Counter-Strike, that’s not possible. First, the map needs to be installed.
Here’s how to do it:
Earlier, we explained how to enter the Workshop. Follow those steps again.
Click on the name of the map you’re interested in. Look for the Discussions section — that’s where you’ll usually find the map files. They are typically posted in a dedicated thread.
Download these files.
In one window, open the downloaded map files. In another, open the folder on your hard drive where CS2 maps are stored.
Find the file with the .vpk extension in the downloaded archive. Then move it into the folder with all the maps.
After completing these steps, you’ll have successfully loaded a map from the CS2 Workshop. But that’s not all. Keep reading to learn how to actually play it.
How to Launch a Map You Like
First, we’ll enter a very important command in the launch options. It disables Valve’s official cheat check. If you don’t do this, some mods simply won’t work, and the map will run with reduced functionality.
As usual, go to Steam and open your Library. Right-click on Counter-Strike 2. Go to “General”, and at the bottom, you’ll see the launch options field. Type in -insecure. This disables anti-cheat control. Keep in mind that with this command active, you won’t be able to play matchmaking (i.e. competitive mode). Remove it before playing matchmaking games.
At the next step, you also don’t need to go into the CS2 Workshop. Just launch any map. Once you're in-game, open the console. Reminder: by default, it’s tied to the “~” key. If you can’t open it, it means you’ve reassigned the key. We recommend checking your settings.
In the console, type: map mapname. No need to use brackets. For example, the command could look like this: map cache. Wait for the loading to finish — and welcome to your selected map.
How to Learn to Create Maps in the CS2 Workshop
Today, we won’t focus on the entertainment aspects — visuals, mods, filters to manage your subscriptions, or map classifications. These topics have been covered in detail in our blog before, so we won’t emphasize them here. If you’re interested, go here.
Now let’s talk about the creative side of the CS2 Workshop — about how everything we call Counter-Strike is created. Of course, one post can’t cover the whole topic. We’ll give a brief overview of the tools that a small part of the CS community uses to create and, ultimately, change the game.
Yes, you heard that right — change it. If you create a great, well-balanced map or a skin with a trendy, cool design, you have every chance to become a part of the game’s history and earn decent money.
What Program Is Used to Create Maps in CS2
Fortunately, you don’t need to search for third-party software. Valve took care of the community and created a professional tool specifically for this purpose. Right away, we’ll say — it’s not located in the CS2 Workshop, but it’s not hard to find.
Go to your Library from the Steam home page. On the main screen, look for “Tools”.
In the list, select Source SDK. Steam will offer to install it — confirm the installation.
Next, you need to open Source SDK. In the Applications list, choose Hammer Editor — this is where you’ll unleash your map-making talents. At the bottom, in the “Engine Version” field, select Source 2. In “Current Game” — choose Counter-Strike 2.
There’s another easier way to launch Hammer Editor. Go to the game’s folder on your computer. Use search to find the file hammer.exe.
At first glance, the program may seem very complicated. You might feel overwhelmed by the many panels and menus and think you’ll never figure it out. But that’s a false impression. Once you understand its inner workings, you’ll be amazed at the functionality Valve has built into it. Look for detailed Russian-language guides and videos on YouTube to learn the ins and outs of Hammer — and you’ll succeed.
What Features and Advantages Does Hammer Editor Offer?
Hammer Editor is a powerful tool that allows you to bring your ideas to life when creating maps and then upload them to the CS2 Workshop. With the editor, you can:
Fully design the level architecture, including lighting, geometry, and textures.
Set up the behavior of bots and NPCs.
Define properties of entity objects — such as a button, bomb, or opening door. These are map elements you can interact with.
Place character models. You can’t create models directly in Hammer — you’ll need separate 3D modeling software for that.
One of Hammer’s biggest advantages is its excellent integration with the Source engine, which Counter-Strike 2 is built on. In fact, the software was made specifically for Source. So if your maps lag or some objects don’t appear, always check your own work for errors first. Only if everything is done perfectly should you consider the engine as the cause of the problem.
Another major advantage is the ability to quickly test your map directly in the game and see how your ideas actually play out.
What Else Can You Create in CS2
So, maybe you’ve already created your first simple map, uploaded it to the CS2 Workshop, and don’t want to stop there. If you’re curious about what else you can make or modify — here’s some good news. Valve has a whole set of tools designed for people like you.
The most commonly used programs include Material Editor and Face Poser.
Material Editor is used to edit materials. If you want to create a visually stunning map, this tool will help. Materials define how the game renders various surfaces. In the editor, you can adjust reflections, textures, or light refractions.
Face Poser helps set up facial animation and expressions for NPCs. It’s not particularly relevant for Counter-Strike, but if you want to experiment, you can create custom facial expressions for your characters.
If you want to express yourself creatively in CS2, then you should definitely master these programs at a professional level. Look for specialized resources and manuals for the software, share your experience on developer forums, and watch educational videos.