Counter-Strike 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Counter-Strike 2 across the outlets.- New Counter-Strike 2 Map Has Players Rescuing Dogs Instead Of Hostages, And That’s Very NiceA new fan-made map for Counter-Strike 2, titled 'Shelter,' replaces the traditional hostage rescue objective with saving dogs from a fictional animal shelter. The map features detailed environments and a narrative involving 'Phoenix Biotechnical' and their animal testing practices. This unique map has gained attention amidst real-world news of dog rescues from a research facility.
Valve just changed how CS2's bomb works, and it's terrifyingValve has updated Counter-Strike 2 with significant changes to bomb detonations in Season 5, introducing a more realistic explosive wave that dissipates around corners and does not penetrate walls. This update also includes a new console command to manually detonate thrown grenades by shooting them, potentially for future testing. The update also sees the Cache map added to the active duty pool, replacing Overpass.
A current Valve designer recreated Half-Life 2's Ravenholm in the Source 2 engine, and says he was "blown away…Valve level designer Chuck Wilson recreated the iconic Half-Life 2 level Ravenholm using the Source 2 engine, showcasing impressive improvements in textures and lighting while retaining the original's eerie atmosphere. Wilson expressed his admiration for the power of Source 2's level design tools, calling them his favorite to date. This fan-made recreation has sparked discussions about the possibility of an official Half-Life 2 remake.- Safe Gaming Guide for Adults: Anti-Toxicity in 2026 | TAGThis guide offers strategies for adult gamers to combat online toxicity and improve their gaming experience. It introduces TAG's safety score for rating games based on community health and provides platform-specific tools for managing communication and blocking players. The article emphasizes the benefits of private lobbies, playing with trusted friends, and seeking out positive communities to mitigate the negative impacts of toxic online environments.
- Engagement RingValve's Counter-Strike 2 is the most popular game on Steam, while Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has achieved a significant sales milestone, selling over 300,000 copies. This indicates continued strong player engagement and commercial success for the franchise on PC.
Counter-Strike 2 might be the biggest game on Steam, but Global Offensive is breaking player count records since it went…Despite Counter-Strike 2 being Steam's dominant title with over a million concurrent players, its predecessor, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, has achieved a new all-time peak of over 68,000 simultaneous players. This resurgence for the 14-year-old game positions it as more popular than titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Rainbow Six Siege on Steam, indicating that the tactical FPS landscape can indeed support multiple successful entries.
Stealth Pro II wireless gaming headset review: "Turtle Beach's premium pair has the chops to put SteelSeries in the corner"The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II wireless gaming headset offers impressive sound and microphone quality, along with a versatile Crossplay 2.0 system for multi-platform connectivity. While its premium features and charging dock are notable, the high price point and the need to purchase additional dongles for full functionality make it a purchase best suited for those with split-room gaming setups, and a discount is recommended.- Games of the Future 2026 Confirms Global Lineup for AstanaThe Games of the Future 2026 has confirmed its final lineup of over 800 athletes from more than 50 nations competing in Astana from July 29 to August 9. The event will feature popular titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds, alongside unique phygital disciplines combining digital gameplay with live sports, with a total prize pool exceeding US$4 million.
There's a new anime series on the way, but I can't stop thinking about these Ghost in the Shell edition…Gaming keyboard brand IQUNIX has collaborated with Kodansha to release two Ghost in the Shell Edition keyboards. These $249.99 60% layout boards feature themed keycaps, Hall-effect switches, and aluminum chassis, aiming to blend tactical precision with cyberpunk aesthetics. The article also mentions the upcoming Ghost in the Shell anime series and the author's personal interest in gaming hardware.
Logitech's new keyboard struggles to back up its clacky bark with biteThe Logitech G316 X gaming keyboard, intended to be an affordable yet quality peripheral, disappoints due to its stiff and non-tactile key switches, despite offering nice lighting and a clacky sound. While the switches are hot-swappable, the overall keypress experience, particularly for gaming in titles like Counter-Strike 2, is negatively impacted, making it a difficult recommendation at its $120 price point.
Steam Week in Review: Steam sales are the best time to hoard dozens of forgotten '90s PC gaming odditiesThe Steam Summer Sale offers deep discounts on major titles, but also presents an opportunity to explore forgotten '90s PC gaming oddities. The article highlights obscure FMV racers, cyberpunk adventures, and rail shooters, suggesting that even browsing trailers and screenshots can be a fascinating dive into video game history. It also notes the ongoing popularity of games like Cyberpunk 2077 and PUBG: Battlegrounds during the sale period.
How to Build a Crosshair That Fits Your Aim Style - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewThis guide explains how to customize your Counter-Strike 2 crosshair to suit your individual playstyle, rather than simply copying professional player settings. It emphasizes visual compatibility, size, and the difference between static and dynamic crosshairs, advising players to find what works best through practice and trial and error.
Fan-favorite map returns to CS2 competitive play in Premier Season FiveValve has confirmed that the fan-favorite map Cache will return to Counter-Strike 2's Active Duty pool, replacing Overpass in Premier Season Five. Cache, which has been remade and updated for the Source 2 engine, will be available in the game's Premier mode starting July 6. This change brings the total number of maps in the Active Duty pool to seven, including Dust 2, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke, Ancient, and Anubis.
Steam Machine review: A singular living room PC that's more expensive than I'd like, but too special not to loveThe new Steam Machine offers a unique and compact living room PC experience, though its high price point is a significant drawback. Despite performance limitations compared to more expensive custom builds, it excels in quiet operation, small form factor, and seamless integration with SteamOS and the Steam Controller, making it a compelling, albeit costly, option for a dedicated home entertainment PC.
Steam Week in Review: spammy, AI-generated capsule art is a pox, and it makes browsing Steam less funThe proliferation of AI-generated capsule art on Steam is diminishing the browsing experience, making it harder to discover genuine indie gems. This trend creates a disconnect between appealing art and actual game quality, potentially leading to wasted time and a less enjoyable user experience for curious players.
The greatest FPS mode of all time is endangeredThe article discusses the decline of the Capture the Flag (CTF) game mode in modern first-person shooters, highlighting its historical significance and unique appeal. While CTF was once a staple, its rarity in current titles is attributed to the rise of service games and genre specialization, with few developers offering the variety that supported CTF's prominence.
Newzoo: Global games market made over $200bn in 2025The global games market generated over $200 billion in revenue in 2025, marking a 9.1% year-on-year increase. Mobile gaming accounted for 56% of this revenue, while PC and console gaming each took 22%. China and the United States were the largest markets, contributing over half of the global spending.
Melgeek's $140 competitive keyboard is solidly built, but with too many downsides for my likingThe Melgeek Real 81 is a competitively priced mechanical keyboard with strong build quality and features like 8,000 Hz polling rate and rapid trigger switches. However, its keys are difficult to read in the dark, and the typing feel is stiff and inconsistent, making it less ideal for everyday use or extensive typing sessions.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless Gen 2 reviewThe SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless Gen 2 gaming headset offers improved battery life and wider software support compared to its predecessor, while retaining its comfortable fit and precise audio. It connects wirelessly via 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth to a wide range of devices including PC, consoles, and mobile, and features a retractable ClearCast Gen 2 microphone. Despite a plasticky build and a high price point, its versatility and enhanced features make it a strong contender in the wireless headset market.
MSI Versa 300 Wireless 8K reviewThe MSI Versa 300 Wireless 8K is a mid-range gaming mouse offering a comfortable shape, strong battery life, and high-performance specs like a 26,000 DPI sensor and 8000 Hz wireless polling rate. However, it falls short of being a top contender due to its basic software and somewhat cheap-feeling construction.