The release of the beta version of Counter-Strike 2 became one of the main news of the first half of 2023. However, then for a long time the developers did not make detailed messages about either when this version would become the main version or how it would change. On June 7, this situation changed: the developers released a large-scale update for Counter-Strike 2. Several elements were reworked at once.
Interface changes
The change that catches your eye first – new shopping and equipment menu. The equipment screen is now arranged as follows:
- Teams have access to 1 slot for a starting pistol, 4 slots for pistols, 5 slots for medium category weapons and 5 slots for rifles.
- At the same time, weapons can be placed in any slot of a suitable category, which opens up new tactical possibilities.
- The interface supports drag-and-drop and has been redesigned to make it more compact.
In addition, the purchasing interface has changed: it is now designed as a grid, in which you can see all possible purchase options at once. Weapon descriptions have been made clearer, so players can see what items teammates are buying.
Tools for skinmakers
The update will also please those who are planning to create their own skins for CS:GO. The beta version has new tools for creating user content – cards, weapon finishes and stickers. You can download them through the settings menu. The Hammer level editor now uses ray tracing capabilities when rendering maps, which speeds up their assembly, but increases the system requirements for its full use. The Steam Workshop does not yet support the addition of maps created in the new editor, but this situation should change in the near future.
This will make adding new items to the game more friendly to new users, especially compared to the previous version of the tools, which were perceived by many as outdated and required various tricks to use.
Technical improvements
Further development has been made technical updates that became the most notable news of the Counter-Strike 2 beta after its release. The display of volumetric smoke in different lighting conditions has been improved, as well as its interaction with different types of weapons: now shots from a shotgun leave more noticeable traces in the smoke cloud than from other guns. Also, based on feedback from players, the sub-tick system has been improved, which improves the game's responsiveness and ensures that there is no lag when pressing keys.
In addition, the update has improved animation and fixed some bugs. Items available on the Steam Community Market for CS:GO can now be inspected in CS2. The update has definitely taken another step towards becoming the main version of the game in the near future.
