Valve has dropped another update to Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test Beta, this time beating everyone’s expectations! In this update, they have not added any new maps or game modes but have done something that would make the experience of the lucky few who are a part of the Limited Test Beta program for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s successor, CS2, even more complete.
https://twitter.com/CounterStrike/status/1692304608868352202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Seattle-based gaming giant announced the release of CS2 back in March with the Limited Test Beta Program, highlighting and testing some of the biggest changes to the game prior to its release. In case you didn’t know, Valve has added a multitude of changes and new features to CS2, apart from the engine upgrade. They have been rotating maps in the playable pool and making changes to game modes as well.
The last update of Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test Beta included a new map, cs_italy (aka Italy) to Deathmatch and Casual game modes. Valve had also disabled Competitive and Private Matchmaking for the players playing CS2. This was in line with their update pattern, which included gameplay adjustments and changes to game modes and map pools.
With their latest update, which dropped on August 17, they have broken their pattern. The developers made all the maps that had been previously shipped as a part of the updates playable in Casual and Deathmatch game modes online. For offline players, in the words of Valve, “All maps and game modes previously shipped in the Limited Test are available”. There have also been changes to some gameplay elements, which you can read in the update notes here.
However, that is not it! As is the case with every update CS2 has been receiving, data miners scrambled to get some hidden info from the game files. This time, the findings reveal two maps which could potentially make their way into the game. As per the findings of renowned Counter-Strike data miner Aquarius, the 'gamemodes.txt' file reveals that de_inferno (Inferno) and de_train (Train) could be the next maps shipped in the game.
https://twitter.com/aquaismissing/status/1692343241973059947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Counter-Strike 2’s release is now close than it has ever been! The active updates being sent to the people who are a part of the program, as I stated in my earlier coverage of the updates, indicate that the game release is on time. Now, I cannot confirm any dates, but there is still time for the North American Summer to get over, so it is not too late.
https://twitter.com/gabefollower/status/1692322704035110953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Some people are also speculating that our Lord Gaben could decide to release the game on the same day as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which is August 21. Let’s hope that we get to experience another decade of exciting Counter-Strike action whenever CS2 releases.