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Counter-Strike 2
Weapons, maps, console commands and guides for Counter-Strike 2, the most played game on Steam.
Guides
All guidesWhat Does CS2 Gameplay Look Like? How a Match Works Round by Round
Counter-Strike 2 · 6 min readCounter-Strike 2Does CS2 Have Co-op Missions? How to Play Mission 1
Counter-Strike 2 · 6 min readCounter-Strike 2Counter-Strike 2 economy guide: when to buy, force and save
Counter-Strike 2 · 1 min readCounter-Strike 2CS2 practice server: console commands for training smokes and aim
Counter-Strike 2 · 1 min readTools & calculators
All toolsFrequently asked questions about Counter-Strike 2
Is Counter-Strike 2 free?
Yes. CS2 is free to download and play on Steam. Prime Status is an optional paid upgrade that unlocks ranked modes, weekly drops and better matchmaking.
Are there Counter-Strike 2 codes for free skins?
No. Valve does not release redeem codes for skins or cases. Sites that offer free skin codes are scams aimed at stealing Steam accounts.
How do I open the console in CS2?
Go to Settings > Game and set Enable Developer Console to Yes, then press the ~ key (below Esc) in game.
What does Premier mode mean?
Premier is CS2's main ranked mode. You pick and ban maps before each match and earn a visible CS Rating number that goes up or down with wins and losses.
Can I play CS2 on console?
No. Counter-Strike 2 is only on PC (Windows and Linux) through Steam.
Counter-Strike 2 is a free-to-play tactical first-person shooter from Valve, released on September 27, 2023 as the successor to CS:GO. Two teams of five, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, play rounds on maps like Dust II, Mirage and Inferno. The Terrorists try to plant and detonate the bomb, and the Counter-Terrorists try to stop them or defuse it. Money earned each round buys weapons, armour and grenades.
CS2 runs on the Source 2 engine and introduced sub-tick servers, volumetric smoke grenades that react to bullets and explosions, and the Premier mode with a visible CS Rating. It is the most played game on Steam, regularly passing a million concurrent players, and has one of the biggest esports scenes in the world.
Key facts
- Matches are first to 13 rounds in Premier and Competitive (MR12).
- Prime Status is a paid upgrade that unlocks ranked play, drops and better matchmaking.
- Skins are cosmetic only and are traded on the Steam Community Market.