Counter-Strike 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Counter-Strike 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Phantom Blade Zero Gets Off to a Flyer on Steam, Behind Only Counter-Strike 2 as the Most-Played Game
Phantom Blade Zero has achieved significant success on Steam shortly after its release, topping the best-selling games chart and reaching a peak concurrent player count of 448,000. This strong performance places it behind only Counter-Strike 2 in player numbers.
More Chinese success as Phantom Blade Zero enjoys a big launch and becomes one of Steam's most played games
Phantom Blade Zero has achieved significant success following its release, reaching over 431,000 concurrent players on Steam and topping the global best-sellers chart. Early reviews are mostly positive, with estimates suggesting over 1 million copies sold across PC and PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Epic Games is doubling down on its use of controversial AI tools for game development, including Fortnite and Unreal Engine 6, despite developer and community concerns.
Wardogs leads Newzoo's September PC revenue charts
Bulkhead's Wardogs topped Newzoo's September PC revenue charts, achieving significant success within three weeks of its Early Access launch. Marvel's Wolverine also performed well, ranking fourth on console revenue charts and high on year-to-date spend. Several other new releases and updated titles like Halloween: The Game, The Blood of the Dawnwalker, and Bodycam also featured prominently in the top rankings.
Finnish esports organization ENCE files for bankruptcy
Finnish esports organization ENCE has filed for bankruptcy after 13 years of operation, citing a 79 percent drop in revenue over the last two years. The organization, primarily known for its Counter-Strike teams, recently won the Elisa Masters Espoo 2024 competition. The future of its players, coaches, and staff remains uncertain.
Razer's Barracuda V2 Pro headset is such a premium powerhouse that it's even put my everyday music cans out to pasture
The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro is a premium gaming headset offering dual wireless connectivity, active noise cancellation, and an impressive 70-hour battery life. It provides excellent audio quality for both gaming and music, with a versatile design that includes a detachable microphone and a hidden dongle storage.
Steam Week in Review: AI disclosures enter the discourse again, as Epic CEO calls them 'just as partisan as…
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has strongly criticized Valve's mandatory AI disclosure policy for Steam, calling it politically motivated and harmful to developers. He argues that Valve is creating an anti-AI environment and that this stance benefits Epic Games. Valve, however, states the policy is to understand the evolving landscape and risks associated with AI in game development.
Half-Life 3 speculation reignited by Valve dev mentioning three sweet little rumored codenamey letters amid technical chat about video game noises
Speculation surrounding Half-Life 3 has resurfaced after Valve composer Mike Morasky mentioned the rumored codename 'HLX' during a technical panel on game sound design. The mention, which occurred during a discussion about HDR audio implementation, has fueled fan theories about the long-awaited sequel's existence.
Half-Life 3 re-re-re-confirmed: A Valve dev just said 'HLX' out loud
Valve composer Mike Morasky inadvertently mentioned "HLX," a rumored codename for a new Half-Life game, during a GameSoundCon panel, sparking renewed speculation about Half-Life 3. His co-panelist David Feise reacted with surprise, suggesting the comment was not intended for public disclosure, and Morasky later appeared to reference the slip-up.
Games like Call of Duty and EA Sports FC most at risk of losing players during GTA 6 launch, according to new data
New data from gaming consultancy Open World suggests that titles like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and EA Sports FC are most at risk of losing players during the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The analysis indicates that competitive shooters and sports games, along with driving and high-stakes session games, are most likely to see player migration. Developers are advised to avoid major content updates or marketing pushes during GTA 6's launch window to mitigate player loss.
Logitech Pro X3 Lightspeed review: What you need to hear
The Logitech Pro X3 Lightspeed gaming headset is praised for its durability, comfort, and premium build quality, making it suitable for long usage sessions. Its audio performance is excellent, delivering clear and distinct sounds in various games, and the EQ can be customized via the G Hub app. While the detachable microphone is decent, the lack of active noise cancellation is noted as a drawback.
Why No Two Copies of the Same CS2 Skin Look Alike - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
Counter-Strike 2's weapon skins exhibit unique visual differences due to a deliberate system involving wear values and pattern seeds, rather than bugs. This procedural generation creates genuine rarity and influences the item economy, with collectors valuing specific combinations of these hidden numbers.
Steam Hits New Milestone of Over 43 Million Concurrent Users
Steam, the PC-exclusive digital distribution platform, has set a new record with over 43.5 million concurrent users. This milestone surpasses its previous record set earlier this year. The platform has seen consistent growth, particularly since the COVID-19 lockdowns, with Valve's hardware efforts like the Steam Deck potentially contributing to its sustained user base.
Counter-Strike 2 player dedicates Master's thesis to rooting out cheaters, creates grade A player tracking system
A student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Christopher B. Didriksen, has dedicated his Master's thesis to combating cheating in Counter-Strike 2. He developed a system that analyzes mouse and keyboard movements to create a unique player 'fingerprint,' allowing for more accurate identification and permanent banning of repeat offenders and smurfs.
The HyperX Cloud III is a superb wired headset, and a no-brainer purchase when discounts are inbound
The HyperX Cloud III wired headset is praised for its superb audio quality, comfortable design for long gaming sessions, and high-quality microphone. Its multi-platform compatibility via 3.5mm, USB-A, and USB-C connections is a significant advantage. While the full price is considered high, the headset is frequently discounted, making it a strong value proposition when found on sale.
Most Common Mistakes New Players Make in One Block Minecraft Bedrock
This article analyzes the effectiveness and detection methods of anti-cheat software used in popular online games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Call of Duty, and Fortnite. It details how systems like VAC, Vanguard, Ricochet, and BattlEye utilize machine learning and kernel-level monitoring to identify cheaters, emphasizing that 'undetectable' software only reduces risk, not eliminate it. The piece also covers the consequences of bans, including account wipes, potential IP bans, and damage to streaming or esports careers, while noting that false positives can occur.
Valve's patch note supremacy
Valve's approach to patch notes, particularly for Deadlock and historically for Team Fortress 2, is praised for its creative and engaging presentation, styled like tourism brochures or comic books. This contrasts with the more functional patch notes of games like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, and highlights Valve's past innovation in storytelling and post-launch support for live service games.
Steam's "best September to date" has new faces like Wardogs and Blood of Dawnwalker leading the charge
Steam achieved its best September to date in 2026, generating an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue, a 13% increase over the previous year. New intellectual properties like Wardogs and The Blood of Dawnwalker led the charge among new releases, contributing significantly to the revenue alongside established franchises and popular free-to-play titles.
Despite going free-to-play in days, new MMORPG Aion 2 just became Steam's top seller
The upcoming free-to-play MMORPG Aion 2 has become Steam's top seller just days before its full launch, driven by sales of its Founder's Packs which offer early access. Developed by NCSoft, the game promises a vast world with both ground and aerial combat, featuring eight distinct classes. While the base game will be free, optional premium subscriptions and battle passes will be available.
Thanks Logitech, your new AI-fueled game clipping software makes me look trash at Counter-Strike, but I'mma keep it…
Logitech's new AI-fueled Replay software for game clipping shows promise but struggles with accurate clip selection in Counter-Strike 2. The author found the software often highlighted unimpressive moments or missed better gameplay, though manual editing is possible and performance impact was negligible on a high-end PC. The software is currently in beta and supports 44 games.
An ode to the loveable, horrible, wonderful Counter-Strike community and my first tournament experience
The author recounts their first experience attending a Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament in Warsaw, Poland, finding a sense of belonging within the passionate community. Despite language barriers and the game's notorious toxicity, the shared experience of watching Luminosity Gaming and 3DMax compete fostered a deep appreciation for the game and its players.
