When did CS2 release?

Counter-Strike 2, also known as CS2, is one of the most anticipated games of the year. The first new Counter-Strike title in over a decade has a fan following unlike any other game. With significant improvements already teased, the hype for the upcoming FPS title is at an all-time high.

When Valve first announced CS2, they revealed the game would be released sometime in Summer 2023. The vague timeline left many players frustrated with Summer being a relatively long period of time.

CS2 released on September 27, 2023. The game is now officially available on Steam and is free to play.

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On September 26, the official CS2 Twitter account changed its banner. 

And on September 27, the social media account again changed its banner, further strengthening release date theories.

And probably the biggest indication of a potential September 27 release (today) is that Valve has cancelled the official CS:GO 360 subscription. Existing subscribers received refunds.

Soon after the final match of the ESL Pro League Season 18 on September 27, ESL revealed that the CS:GO servers shut down.

CS2 is a brand-new game with improved graphics and a significant upgrade over the previous game. While Counter-Strike Global Offensive was based on the Source 1 Engine, CS2 will bring new developments and improvements with the Source 2 engine. 

A big part of the community was worried about their existing cosmetic skins in CS:GO. However, Valve has confirmed the existing skins will port over to CS2 upon the game’s release. Valve has been slowly adding new maps, and features as well as rotating maps out since the CS2 beta launch. The game features responsive smokes, improved graphics, and a new sub-tick system that will allow players of all systems to play the game at an optimal level. 

Meanwhile here's how you can download CS2, at least as long as you fulfill the CS2 system requirements.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest CS2 news and updates.