Counter-Strike 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Counter-Strike 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Fan-favorite map returns to CS2 competitive play in Premier Season Five
Valve 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 love
The 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 fun
The 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 endangered
The 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 2025
The 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 liking
The 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 review
The 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 review
The 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.
Danger Zone
A report from PC Gamer suggests that Counter-Strike 2, Steam's second most-played game, is currently plagued by a bot-filled marketplace that could lead to player bans. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about cheating and account security within the game.
Nvidia G-Sync Pulsar monitors can successfully beat biology to hone motion clarity in games - though they're not yet worth the price
Nvidia's G-Sync Pulsar technology aims to improve motion clarity in games by using a segmented backlight strobing technique, which is more effective than traditional methods and compatible with variable refresh rates. While it shows promise in games like Dota 2 and Forza Horizon 6, its benefits vary significantly by title and it requires a GeForce RTX graphics card. The high cost of current Pulsar monitors, such as the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQNGV, makes them a questionable purchase for most consumers.
Steam Week in Review: More than 300 games released on Steam last week, and 120 of them had AI disclosures
Last week saw over 300 games released on Steam, with 120 of them featuring AI disclosures. Several games, including visual novels and FMV titles, heavily utilize AI-generated art, music, and narrative, with some priced at $100 or more. This trend raises concerns about the quality and legitimacy of AI-driven game development and pricing strategies on the platform.
After gaming on pro-level panels I can tell you now that 360 Hz is the sweet spot for gaming monitors
Hardware writer Jacob Fox argues that 360 Hz is the sweet spot for gaming monitor refresh rates, especially for competitive FPS titles like Counter-Strike 2. While jumps from 144 Hz to 240 Hz offer a very noticeable improvement, and 240 Hz to 360 Hz provides a significant enough benefit to justify the cost, gains beyond 360 Hz offer diminishing returns. Fox's testing indicates that while higher refresh rates don't necessarily make players perform better, they enhance the overall gameplay experience and responsiveness.
Hide-and-seek game Meccha Chameleon is the latest indie hit to boast a million sales as it soars up the Steam charts
The hide-and-seek indie game Meccha Chameleon has achieved over one million sales on Steam, reaching the number two spot on the platform's global best-sellers list. The game, which involves players mimicking their environment to hide from seekers, is praised for its simple yet engaging gameplay and low price point. It has also seen significant viewership on Twitch, indicating its popularity as both a player and spectator experience.
Stop Killing Games-backed California bill targeting online game shutdowns "isn't going to be an easy thing" to enforce, says the politician behind it
California Assemblymember Chris Ward acknowledges that enforcing a new bill aimed at protecting consumers from game server shutdowns will be challenging. The proposed legislation would require publishers to offer refunds or playable offline versions of games when servers are closed. Ward hopes the bill, if passed, will influence practices nationwide, similar to the 'California Effect' seen with other consumer protection laws.
I didn't think jumping from 144 to 320 Hz would make this big of a difference
The Alienware AW2525HM monitor offers a 320 Hz refresh rate and fast response times, making it a compelling option for competitive FPS gamers on a budget. While its 1080p resolution and pixel density are not ideal for casual gaming, its smooth performance, decent HDR, and a price tag of $250 make it a standout choice for its target audience.
The new Koorui 34E6UC is a budget 34-inch ultrawide that's big on immersion
The Koorui 34E6UC is a 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor offering an immersive experience at a budget-friendly price of $264. While it boasts a 165Hz refresh rate and a 3440x1440 resolution, its VA panel exhibits sluggish pixel response times, making it less ideal for fast-paced esports. Despite its shortcomings, the monitor is well-built and provides good value for its cost, especially considering the rising prices of other PC components.
OLED Monitors, Handheld PCs, and the New Era of Premium Gaming Tech
The gaming hardware market has shifted from prioritizing raw power to focusing on immersion, with OLED monitors and handheld PCs becoming premium staples. Factors like advanced game rendering, the public-facing nature of gaming setups, and competition with other tech devices are driving this trend. Additionally, the demand for AI infrastructure is impacting component availability and pricing for gaming hardware.
Why Rare CS2 Skins Still Shape Esports Culture
Rare cosmetic skins in Counter-Strike 2 continue to shape esports culture by serving as symbols of player identity, history, and status within the community. These items add a visual language to the game, making key moments more memorable for viewers and providing collectors and traders with a way to engage with the scene beyond gameplay. Valve's ongoing support for the game ensures that the cultural significance of these skins persists.
Which gaming clip just won $500? Check out the best videos of May, featuring nukes in Minecraft, eternal drifts in Forza Horizon 6, and a dragon-riding giant in Skyrim
PC Gamer is showcasing the best gaming clips submitted by players in May, with a $500 prize awarded to the top video. The highlights include impressive moments in games like Minecraft, Forza Horizon 6, and Skyrim, alongside action from shooters and sandbox titles.
Prime Day might be three weeks away, but I can guarantee I've already found the strangest deal of the summer
This article highlights a peculiar early Prime Day deal for a novelty wireless mouse shaped like a retro Volkswagen Beetle. While amusing and inexpensive, it's noted that this unusual peripheral is not suitable for serious gaming, with other bizarre "Cute Pig" themed mice also mentioned as examples of strange offerings from the retailer Elec Space.
