Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was released in 2012. Since then, Valve has not been working on improving the graphics of their project. The only visual changes were the redesign of some maps, such as Mirage and Dust 2 in 2020. However, their technical execution remained at the same level. Texture and shadow quality, model geometry, special effects, and lighting have not changed since 2012.
In the spring of 2023, Valve announced that they are developing Counter-Strike 2 – a new installment of the competitive shooter. It is being created on the next version of the engine – Source 2. According to developers, this innovation will become the biggest graphical leap in the history of the series. We will find out what changes players can expect, as well as what kind of computer will be needed for Counter-Strike Online 2.
Key changes
The first thing that interests players is the structure of the maps and weapon skins. According to the developers, they will stay the same, and skins from CS GO can be transferred to the new installment. Innovations are mainly focused on improving the graphics of the project. We will now take a closer look at the changes that await us in the new game.
Tick-rate structure
Ignoring complex technical details, tick-rate refers to the frequency of sending and receiving data between your computer and the server. This phenomenon is present in all multiplayer projects, and it directly affects game responsiveness. For example, the higher the tick-rate, the faster coordinates of shots are transmitted between the player and the server. This makes shooting more effective against opponents.
In CS 2, developers will implement a "tick-rate structure." Thanks to it, servers will be able to instantly record players' actions. Any shot, step, or grenade throw will not first be sent to the server, processed there, and then sent back to the player. This will significantly increase the responsiveness of the new installment and reduce gamers' dependence on technological limitations, which is essential for competitive play.
New textures and model geometry
All models for Counter Strike 2 are created from scratch. They will have improved geometry, as well as textures of higher resolution compared to Global Offensive. Now, the quality of 3D objects in Counter Strike will match modern graphical standards.
Dynamic smoke
When using smoke grenades, three-dimensional particles will be created instead of raster images of gray color. Their shade will depend on the lighting in the scene. In open spaces where sunlight penetrates, the smoke will be light, and in buildings, it will be dark.
Volumetric particles will be dynamic, not static. That is, they will react to other objects. For example, if a shrapnel grenade is thrown into a smoke cloud, the shock wave will scatter particles. The same applies to bullets. Intensive shooting at the cloud will be able to dissipate camouflage smoke.
Lighting
Lighting affects the visual component of the game no less than texture quality and model geometry. Valve understood this perfectly well. Therefore, when creating the Source 2 engine, developers paid great attention to improving the lighting. New rendering systems will not only make the visual component of the new installment better compared to the outdated CS GO but, in general, change the perception of the game.
Visual effects
Air splits caused by bullets, flashes from shots, fire behavior, water, and explosions will all be completely revamped. For example, the liquid in the Molotov cocktail will react to the position of the bottle in space, and bloodstains will begin to coincide with the direction of the shots. This elaboration will make the gameplay not only more realistic but also more informative. For example, by bloodstains, players will be able to assess the movement of the opponent or find out where the shootout took place.
System Requirements
The system requirements for Counter Strike 2 are currently unknown. The HYPERPC team has carefully analyzed available videos and screenshots to form an approximate opinion on the performance of the new game.
We assume that CS 2 will have the following PC requirements:
| Minimum system requirements | |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10, 11 |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-8100 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Disk Space | 50 GB |
| Recommended system requirements | |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10, 11 |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-10400 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Disk Space | 50 GB |
Counter Strike is a competitive shooter where frame rate plays a crucial role. The higher the frame rate, the less input lag, which affects the gamer's effectiveness in matches. High frame rates also increase image smoothness when using a high-refresh-rate monitor, making shooting and aiming at enemies easier.
In addition to FPS, a player's performance in competitive shooters also depends on the level of detail in the graphics. This is why esports athletes are switching to 2K and 4K monitors en masse. These displays have higher pixel densities, so players can see more details, including enemies, at longer distances.
According to HYPERPC, a system of the following level will provide high frame rates in CS 2 at 4K resolution:
| Maximum system requirements | |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-13600K |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 |
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Disk Space | 100 GB на SSD |
Release date
Counter Strike 2 is expected to be released in the summer of 2023. The exact release date is currently unknown. Closed beta testing started in March 2023 and is only available to some CS:GO players.
Computers for CS:GO Source 2 from HYPERPC – November 2024
The new Source engine version is impressive. Improved textures, reworked special effects, and updated lighting not only make the game more beautiful, but also increase the performance requirements for computers.
HYPERPC gaming systems are designed for the future. We guarantee that our PCs will provide you with high and stable FPS in Counter Strike 2, regardless of the game's system requirements.
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