How Will CS2 Change the Counter-Strike Esports and Gaming Scene?

CS2 is now in limited release, meaning that a lot of people have access to the game and are already providing their feedback on things like the new map systems.

The game is largely being branded as a new version of Counter-Strike, but that’s not strictly true. In fact, having had a sneak peek of the game we think it is more of an update on the previous CS:GO game that has been so successful. Well, it certainly wasn’t broken, so why try too hard to fix it?

The concurrent number of players who are playing CS:GO can flit between 800,000 and 900,000 at any given time. This goes to show what a massive global phenomenon Counter-Strike truly is. So, when all those players suddenly have a new game available, what is going to happen? Will there be a smooth transition?

Esports and Gambling – How Will it Change?

The big tournaments have all announced that they are going to shift from CS:GO to CS2. This makes sense, there’s really no point in keeping the old CS:GO platform when CS2 is effectively the same game.

Thunderpick World Championship 2023 is being played on the new platform. This is one of the biggest global tournaments in the whole esports scene and the organizers were quick to jump onto the new tournament. Thunderpick is a gambling brand and many people use Thunderpick’s secure esports platform for CS2 betting. They have been one of the gambling companies that quickly saw the need to move to the new generation of games.

Will gambling change as a result of the switch to CS2? Well, probably not a great deal. Most of the markets that people can choose will stay the same. However, there could be some changes in how the big teams adapt to the switch. Some of the competitive esports teams may take longer to get used to the new CS2 way of doing things. This could mean we see a few surprises or teams improving out of nowhere. The giants like FaZe and Vitality might not adapt so well (there are no signs of this yet, though).

The maps are also slightly different, or at least overhauled from the previous CS:GO generation. This means that the gamers playing the game need to be good at adjusting, especially if they’re going to win tournaments or matchups.

If anything, CS2 could be more popular among gamblers. CS:GO is now quite an old game, and the revamp could bring a lot more viewers to check out the tournaments.

Faster Tick Rates

One of the biggest changes to the way the game is going to be played is in the tick rates. CS2 takes us from 64 to 128-tick servers. This means that the response of the game is quicker. When someone fires a gun in the game the responses are quicker, same with things like jumping in the game. This extra tick rate means that the players who are the fastest with their reactions and gameplay could potentially benefit.

The game’s developers explained: “The server will know the exact moment you fired your shot, jumped your jump, or peaked your peak.”

This is good for casual players but it is also great for the pros who will just feel like the game is that extra level of responsive. The speed of gameplay will also depend on your system and factors like how much RAM you have available, so the tick rate is just a server-side improvement. The whole package needs to be there to improve the experience.

Modern Graphics Attracting More Players

The graphics have seen a big overhaul in general. Things look better. It isn’t a surprise. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive came out in 2012, making it more than a decade old at this point. Not many games have existed for that long without any significant changes.

So, it makes sense that we’ve got better skins and more impressive graphics. This will include volumetric objects that make things like gunfire and smoke grenades look a lot better. The effects are dynamic and appear the same to all players which is crucial in terms of the Counter-Strike gameplay.

We’ve got a whole generation of gamers who expect these HD graphics now, so it is no surprise that modern graphics could provide a pull for younger adults to try the game.

Conclusion

CS2 is a revamp, but it is an exciting one. Most people can now play a version of the game if they wish to check it out. People have been ready for this for a lot of years and the global esports market will have to adapt. Gamers will see subtle changes rather than huge alterations, and this should make it smoother to transition to the CS2 generation.