Counter-Strike 2 – A Disappointing Step Backwards

I was genuinely excited when I first heard that CS:GO would be getting a major upgrade with Counter-Strike 2. A new engine, improved graphics, and the promise of smoother gameplay sounded like everything the community had been waiting for. Unfortunately, after spending a lot of time with CS2, I have to say I’m quite disappointed.

While the visuals are more modern and the lighting effects look nice, the game feels like a downgrade in almost every other aspect. CS:GO offered far more game modes, and I especially miss the Danger Zone battle royale mode — it wasn’t something I played all the time, but it was a fun alternative when I wanted a change of pace.

Even the technical side feels worse in some ways. CS:GO had great optimization — even my friends with low-end PCs could run it smoothly. The hitboxes and anticheat also felt more reliable and consistent. Now, in CS2, performance can be unstable and the experience varies from player to player.

And then there’s Valve’s overall support… or rather, the lack of it. It honestly feels like Valve has completely abandoned CS2. We used to have those legendary Operations with missions, collectible coins, and fun challenges that kept the game alive for months. Now all we get is a cash-grab Armory Pass, which looks like a cheap battle pass clone taken straight out of Fortnite. There’s no real sense of progression or community anymore.

Speaking of community — it used to be much more relaxed in the CS:GO days. People played for fun, experimented with different modes, and enjoyed the social side of the game. Nowadays, everyone takes it too seriously, and the new ranking system only makes things worse. It feels completely random: players who perform like LEMs get stuck in Silver 4, while others climb without really earning it. In CS:GO, ranks at least made some sense — here it’s just chaos.

In the end, Counter-Strike 2 might look prettier on the surface, but it’s missing the soul and depth that made CS:GO great. Unless Valve brings back the classic features, Operations, and a more balanced ranking system, CS2 will remain a beautiful yet hollow shell of its predecessor.

Verdict: Not Recommended (for now)