Despite the much-anticipated arrival of Counter-Strike 2, players are voicing their concerns over absent content that was previously seen in its predecessor, CS:GO.
Counter-Strike 2’s release has undoubtedly shaken up the gaming world, quickly becoming Steam’s top title. The game had with an impressive 1.4 million peak players within its initial 24 hours. This number even overshadows the beloved DOTA 2 by 800,000 players.
However, many fans are less than thrilled that the game has replaced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, especially considering the noticeable content gap.
Missing Content and Player Concerns
One of the highlights of Counter-Strike 2 is its shift to Valve’s Source 2 engine, resulting in enhanced visuals. The game has successfully integrated feedback, making several adjustments to maps, enhancing the utility of smoke grenades, and refining competitive modes for a faster-paced gaming experience.
While the game boasts several modes like Deathmatch, Casual, Competitive, Wingman, and Premier, several modes such as War Games and Arms Race are conspicuously absent. While these might not have been the crowd favorites, many players feel a sense of loss at their exclusion.
Similarly, maps have been a focal point of discussion. Although Counter-Strike 2 introduced a range of maps from Office to Nuke, iconic arenas like Cache and Train have been left out.
Furthermore, Mac users feel sidelined as the sequel currently does not support their platform, unlike CS:GO.
Reactions online mirror these concerns as well. A trending post on the CS:GO subreddit expresses dissatisfaction with the sequel, pointing out the features it lacks compared to CS:GO.
Players reminisce about the maps and modes they loved. They showed sadness for their nostalgia of the Cache map. Users also showed sympathy for mac users.
On the flip side, some defend the game, arguing that certain omitted modes like Danger Zone weren’t that popular. This sentiment is met with the argument that contented players previously had no reason to voice complaints.
Esports Professional Opinions
1st day feedback from scrims instead of just pugs @CounterStrike:
— Jonathan Jablonowski (@EliGE) September 28, 2023
❌Rubber banding is still an issue when running next to teammates
❌Massive FPS drops for 1-2 seconds happening
🔥Hard to tell if a molotov misses in the air or not compared to the sound cue we had in CS:GO
☁️As…
Esports professionals are also in two minds about Counter-Strike 2. While Complexity’s Elige has highlighted various launch issues, Dupreeh acknowledges the game’s potential, calling it “very exciting.”
Agree, it’s just an excuse at this point. Surely things to add and hotfix but the game already feels much better than last weeks. Very exciting https://t.co/nEnpGCak3P
— Peter Rasmussen (@dupreeh) September 28, 2023
Valve is not deaf to the feedback. They’ve already issued a patch addressing some of the launch glitches. And many are hopeful that the missing content will gradually be reintroduced, filling the gaps that players currently lament.
For now, Counter-Strike enthusiasts will have to work with what’s on the table.