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Counter-Strike 2 is officially launching in mid-2023

Counter-Strike 2 has officially been confirmed, after weeks of rumours and leaks.
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After weeks of internal leaks and rumours, Valve has officially confirmed the existence of Counter-Strike 2, an upgraded sequel to the ever-popular multiplayer tactical shooter Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), featuring tweaked gameplay and modern improvements to lighting and shooting. The game is being called ‘the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike‘s history’ and represents years of refinement.

Counter-Strike 2 will launch in mid-2023, although select players have reportedly been invited to a limited technical test for new features. So far, we know this test will include newly-lit maps with improved rendering and visuals, and a complete update to the game’s ‘tick rate’ firing system.

‘Tick rate’ is a system by which Counter-Strike measures player input ie. movement and shooting. Previously, ‘ticks’ were only calculated at certain intervals, leaving minuscule, non-responsive gaps in gameplay. Counter-Strike 2 will now feature ‘sub-ticks’ to better monitor player input and reduce any potential lag in gameplay, which is important for the highly-competitive nature of the game.

Read: Steam hits record-breaking 10 million concurrent in-game players

In addition, some weaponry has also been upgraded, including smoke grenades – which will now be more ‘dynamic’ and better deployed in map environments.

You can see some of these improvements in the Counter-Strike 2 showcase videos below:

When Counter-Strike 2 launches in mid-2023, it will be a free upgrade to CS:GO, available to everyone. Any cosmetics and other in-game items players own in the original game will be transferred to this sequel, which should hopefully make the transition process much smoother.

Valve is reportedly inviting additional CS:GO players to take part in early beta tests for Counter-Strike 2 over the coming weeks – so stay tuned for more news on how to access the game, and what to expect on launch.

Leah J. Williams is a gaming and entertainment journalist who spends her time falling in love with media of all qualities. One of her favourite films is The Mummy (2017), and one of her favourite games is The Urbz for Nintendo DS. Take this information as you will.