A number of Counter-strike 2 maps have already been released. It’s been exciting to see what content and features from CS:GO we’ll get our hands on in CS2.
From updated weapon skins, changes to smokes acting in dynamic ways to react to bullets or lighting, and even official servers seeing an increased tick rate. However, on top of all of these changes is the collection of maps that are returning as CS2 maps and how they’ve been updated for the newest Counter-Strike experience.
Three Categories
Image Credit: Valve
When the Counter-Strike 2 team teased the new features we’d be getting in 2023 in their Levelling Up The World video, the team at Valve explained that any returning maps will fall under being either Touchstone, Upgrade, or Overhaul maps. Which category they fall under depends on the amount of changes that have been made.
What’s made it in so far?
The Counter Strike 2 maps available so far are for a few different game modes beyond just the iconic Bomb Defusal. Hostage Rescue makes a return, as well as the ever-popular Wingman. Already, top tier maps have been dropped.
The Counter-strike 2 maps available to play now in Bomb Defusal are:
Ancient
Anubis
Dust 2
Inferno
Mirage
Nuke
Overpass
Vertigo
Touchstone Maps
Valve describes Touchstone Maps as “classic maps with solid foundations that players can use to evaluate gameplay changes from CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2. These have improvements to lighting and character read, but otherwise haven’t been changed.” They’re some of the best maps in CS:GO. You can expect to see maps like Dust 2 in this category, where they’ll get a fresh coat of paint. With regards to any gameplay changes you could expect to see on these maps, those will come from the system changes to Counter Strike 2 as a whole, not just because these have become CS2 maps.
Upgrade Maps
Upgrade Maps use the new Source 2 engine lighting and rendering systems to change surfaces. They use more realistic materials, lighting, and reflections than we see in CS:GO. A CS2 map in this category would be Nuke. The metal and concrete sections like the tunnels or A site have been redone to accommodate the smoke reacting dynamically to shadows and bullets.
Overhaul Maps
Overhaul maps are, as you’d expect the most comprehensive changes any maps are receiving as CS2 Maps. Valve says they’ve “been fully rebuilt from the ground up, leveraging all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features”. This is super apparent with maps like Overpass which looks amazing in the new Source 2 engine. Maps like these will feature everything from new models for familiar props. This includes the benches alongside the walls near Restroom to redone shadowing along the trees in the park in A Long.
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