The CS2 beta became available for a small percentage of the playerbase on March 22. Since then, players from all around the world have been waiting for Valve to release the game worldwide this summer.
Each change the developers implement to CS2’s code is getting caught by leakers and the rumors that Valve is set to release the game in the near future have reached an all-time high, especially following a CS2 update on June 6 that swapped Dust II for Mirage and introduced several quality-of-life changes.
We’ve gathered the best leaks and rumors that show the direction Valve is taking with CS2 so you can find them all in one place.
CS2 rumors, leaks, and details
June 29, 2023: The updated version of Inferno gets leaked
Inferno has yet to be added to the CS2 beta, but we already know what the classic map will look like in Source 2. Inferno has been leaked following the update that added Nuke and Office and its new visuals are downright astonishing. Inferno will be considerably brighter in CS2 and way more beautiful as Valve is adding tons of new details.
June 29, 2023: Valve replaces Mirage with Nuke and Office in latest CS2 beta update
The rumors were right after all. Valve took out Mirage of CS2’s map rotation and included the revamped versions of Nuke and Office. This is the first time that players can play more than one map in the CS2 beta.
June 27, 2023: Nuke will replace Mirage on the CS2 beta, according to rumors
Some CS2 players are sure Nuke will be the next map made available in the beta. Dust II and Mirage are part of the maps that barely got any noticeable changes other than improved lighting and textures. Nuke, on the other hand, has been more upgraded than Mirage and Dust II as it uses a bunch of Source 2’s unique resources.
The players think Nuke would be the perfect map for the CS2 beta before Valve shows one of the maps that have been totally overhauled like Overpass and Train.
Related: All CS2 maps revealed so far
June 22, 2023: CS2 access was finally boosted, but over 95 percent of players still missed out
If you had some luck in June, you could’ve received access to the CS2 beta. It was pointed out, however, that the access increased only by about one percent, so you’re possibly still waiting for the opportunity to jump into CS2 like the majority of the Counter-Strike player base.
June 20, 2023: Locked out of CS2? You can still check how your CS:GO skins will look in the game
With numerous players still not having access to the CS2 beta, one Reddit user put together a website where you can see how your CS:GO skins will look in the new game. Although for now, it remains unsure whether there’s a possibility to see every single skin in the game, which isn’t sadly that likely.
June 20, 2023: Valve focusing on preserving CS:GO’s ‘movement skill’ after CS2 backlash
While most people are excited about CS2, some have called out its flaws featured in the beta so far, including movement mechanics. The developers addressed these issues by improving it as much as they can, and they shared the results on June 20 on Twitter.
June 19, 2023: The movement mechanics in CS2 could be upgraded soon
Valve is committed to preserving CS:GO’s “movement skill” in CS2 after community figures like former professional player Jacob “Pimp” Winneche criticized the movement mechanics in the CS2 beta. Valve shared a clip of CS2’s current developer build on June 19 and the movement looks as smooth as it is in CS:GO, prompting fans to believe that the CS2 beta will be updated soon with this new build.
June 14, 2023: Valve pushes more fixes for CS2
Valve shipped another patch for CS2 on June 14, most notably fixing a spot near Bench on Mirage that made the server lag and removing “various strange wallbangs” that players discovered since the map replaced Dust II in the June 6 update.
June 12, 2023: ESL says CS2 could debut at IEM Cologne: ‘We remain cautiously optimistic’
While the community is buzzing about the CS2 beta, not much is known about the future of Counter-Strike esports. We’re certain it will switch to the new game at some point, but the exact details remain unknown, possibly even to the event organizers themselves. When the groups for IEM Cologne 2023 were announced, however, ESL representatives claimed they’re “cautiously optimistic” about the tournament being played on CS2.
June 12, 2023: CS2’s VAC Live system is already banning cheaters faster than ever
June 6’s CS2 update also promised some significant changes to the VAC system, with it supposedly catching cheaters faster and more efficiently. And some players in the community have started to highlight the change, pointing out how some cheaters are getting caught literally one round after getting reported.
June 9, 2023: Valve opens up CS2 limited test to new wave of players in latest update
Finally, on June 9, Valve also announced it was sending out more invites to the CS2 beta, which pleased the community. The number still remains unknown, and judging by the community reactions, not many people got in. But those who did are probably enjoying Mirage as we speak.
June 9, 2023: Valve is reportedly requesting major esports changes ahead of CS2 launch
The BLAST.tv Paris CS:GO Major showcased what tier-two teams are capable of when they’re given the opportunity. A total of four underdogs made it to the Champions Stage, with one of them, GamerLegion, going all the way to the final. This stirred a heated discussion in the community about the need for more open circuit events in the scene, and it looks like Valve supports that thought as well. The company reportedly asked ESL and BLAST to shorten the number of tournaments with closed systems.
June 9, 2023: These small CS2 buy menu changes would be all it takes to win over players
While everyone is pleased with Valve tirelessly working on CS2 to ship it out this summer, some fans have suggested minor changes. One of them would tweak the menu to appear in green, and we can’t say we don’t like it.
June 7, 2023: Here are the CS2 update patch notes for June 7
A day after a major update on June 6, Valve added another one on June 7. This one focused on fixing a bunch of stuff in CS2, which should improve the gameplay for everyone.
June 7, 2023: CS2 introduces game-changing chicken mechanic—and everyone loves it
Everyone can shoot chickens on some CS:GO maps, and the case won’t be different in CS2. What will be different, however, is the fact you’ll be able to barbecue them alive if you use a Molotov, which got everyone excited. Such a small detail is enough to make the Counter-Strike community thrilled.
June 6, 2023: The Desert Eagle gained a massive buff in the latest update
From now on, the Desert Eagle’s second shot will have almost no recoil, no matter how fast you fire the first and second bullet. This buff could make the Deagle even more popular as it will be easier to hit one-deags in CS2.
Related: Here are the CS2 update patch notes for June 6
June 6, 2023: Players can now equip both the M4A1-S and M4A4 in CS2
The update that replaced Dust II for Mirage also implemented custom loadouts. Now, players will be able to select five pistols, five mid-tier weapons, and five rifles before heading into a CS2 match. This will allow players to bring both the M4A4 and the M4A1-S into matches, which has been one of the most-desired features since CS:GO’s release in 2012.
June 6, 2023: Valve swaps Dust II for Mirage in CS2
Valve replaced Dust II for Mirage in the CS2 beta on June 6, nearly two months after its start. Players can now see how Mirage is looking in CS2 and take notes of every change Valve made to the map in comparison to CS:GO.
June 5, 2023: Valves updates CS2 resources on workshop
Valve has updated its workshop resources website with all the CS2 weapon models, which will allow skin artists to craft skins specifically tailored for CS2. Fans also noticed that Valve uploaded the model of the Zeus x27 and believe Valve will bring on skins for the taser gun in CS2.
June 5, 2023: Weapons will be more realistic in CS2
Valve has reworked the gun models for CS2, thus making the weapons seemingly more realistic than they’re in CS:GO. Fans are pleased with the changes as the guns in CS2 will look more like real weapons instead of looking like airsoft guns.
May 31, 2023: Players are convinced Valve is getting ready to release CS2 after ‘hackerone’ update
Valve is set to disable CS:GO‘s exploit and vulnerability reporting system on June 14, meaning it won’t be looking into the game’s problems anymore after that date. This has led CS players to think CS2 will be released around that date. The worldwide release is scheduled for this summer, but Valve has yet to announce a specific date.
May 2, 2023: Players report they’re getting pulled out from CS2 beta
Valve is taking away access to CS2‘s limited test at the beginning of May, according to multiple players. The reason behind the move is unclear at the moment, but this action is making the community think that CS2‘s worldwide release is closer than we thought.
April 25, 2023: A beloved operation map in CS:GO is gaining a port to CS2
If you’re a veteran CS:GO player you’ll probably remember Santorini, a community map made by FMPONE for Operation Wildfire in 2015. Although Santorini was never included in CS:GO‘s Active Duty map pool, many casual players enjoyed the design and colors of the Greek Island and they’ll be able to play an updated version of it on CS2 thanks to FMPONE. The map maker is already porting Santorini to CS2 so players can test it out once the game fully releases this summer.
March 24, 2023: Counter-Strike 2 will have multiple announcers, according to leaks
This feature hasn’t been implemented in the limited test yet, but leakers have spotted the codes in CS2. The players will be able to choose between four announcers, including a female, through the game’s Settings. This already exists in Dota 2 and creates the possibility for Valve to release announcer packs featuring famous voices like it already does in Dota 2.
March 24, 2023: Aquarius says Valve is implementing a revolutionary anti-cheating tool for Counter-Strike 2
There’s a new feature in the works called “VAC Live,” as spotted by leaker Aquarius. This tool will automatically cancel a match if a cheater is detected, sparing players from having to play an entire game that is plagued by a cheater. This could also hint that Valve is working on a more invasive anti-cheat system, similar to what Riot Games has done with VALORANT.
March 23, 2023: Aquarius spots mobile codes in Source 2
Source 2 supports iOS and Android, which could mean that Valve could possibly release Counter-Strike 2 for mobile in the future. One player pointed out, though, that the console command Aquarius spotted is a leftover from Dota Underlords, which can also be found in Dota 2.
March 22, 2023: Aquarius points out a possible anti-cheat system in Counter-Strike 2
With the announcement of Counter-Strike 2 and the official limited playtesting going live on March 22, it was more than natural that some data miners would dive into the game’s files once again. One of the main leakers, Aquarius, posted a screengrab of a code containing “AntiCheat,” which could point to a possible updated or new anti-cheat system in Counter-Strike 2. And with the game receiving a complete revamp to its systems, it’s not a stretch to think its anti-cheat will be upgraded as well.
March 22, 2023: Valve confirms Counter-Strike 2 is coming this summer
Valve has officially spoken about Counter-Strike 2 for the first time since Richard Lewis reported that Source 2 was coming to CS:GO this month. Counter-Strike 2 will be a free upgrade to CS:GO and is already available for testing to selected players. The update will deeply change how smoke grenades work, moving and shooting will be way more accurate because of the introduction of sub-ticks, and maps have been reworked accordingly to what was needed.
March 22, 2023: New CS:GO branched
The developers have updated the game code today. Developers generate a new branch in the code they’re working on in order to create a different version without affecting the old version of the app. This could mean that Valve is getting ready to push Source 2 to CS:GO soon.
March 21, 2023: Valve updates CS:GO‘s Twitter banner to new logo
Valve has come up with a new logo for the official CS:GO account on Twitter amid all the new speculation that Source 2 is launching soon. The developer has been changing the Twitter banner a lot since the rumors started flying and now that we’re close to Wednesday, when the CS:GO client is usually updated, the community is interpreting the new logo as a hint that Source 2 is dropping.
March 20, 2023: Leaker spots new hidden CS:GO blog post
On the night of March 20, reputable CS:GO leaker Aquarius spotted Valve adding new hidden entries to Valve’s CS:GO blog, which is used to announce updates. It could be that Valve is setting up new pages for what is to come.
March 15, 2023: Another CS:GO update spotted on SteamDB
Players from all over the world expected the Source 2 update to be rolled on Wednesday evening since Valve usually updates the game in that timeframe. While there was no official update to be seen, SteamDB spotted some new configs added to the game. It’s surely only a matter of time before Source 2 drops.
March 15, 2023: CS:GO Twitter account teases Source 2 arrival
The devs replied with a short clip from The Office TV series to one of ESL’s tweets about everything we know about the Source 2 update. While this is nothing more than cheeky fun from the devs’ side, it’s yet another hint that the update is on its way and will be added sooner or later.
March 14, 2023: cs2.Exe added to CS:GO configs
In the late afternoon of March 14, Gabe Follower spotted that Valve added a file called cs2.exe to CS:GO. Many players were expecting the update to drop but nothing happened. Still, with cs2.exe in the game, it’s yet another hint that it could be right around the corner, and could be coming on March 15.
Additionally, some players have pointed out that Valve adds most of its CS:GO updates on Wednesday evenings. So having a file like cs2.exe could be the last preparation before the update goes live.
March 14, 2023: Leakers layout map pool for Source 2
CS:GO leakers have spotted that Valve has seemingly ported seven maps in total to the Source 2 engine over the course of the past few months. The selection includes competitive maps Inferno, Cobblestone, and Overpass, plus four more casual maps in Short Dust, Lake, Shoots, and Italy, which are usually played in modes like Wingman or Arms Race.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that only these seven maps will be playable when Source 2 arrives in CS:GO. “It might be full-fledged remakes and other maps will be directly ported from [the] current engine,” Gabe Follower said.
March 14, 2023: Source 2 is added to the developer pre-release branch
The developer build is being updated, which means there are no more updates for Source 1, and that indicates that Source 2 might be added this week, according to reputable CS:GO leaker Ale_CS. The pre-release branch is a step that developers take when the product is getting ready for release. For reference, most CS:GO updates were pushed either on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, according to a recent tracking.
March 8, 2023: Valve seemingly spent $300,000 to buy two maps
It was leaked in CS:GO‘s item schema API that Valve has seemingly paid $150,000 to buy the rights of Anubis and $150,000 to buy the rights of Tuscan, two maps that belonged to independent map makers. This information hasn’t been confirmed by Valve, but if true, it would allow the developers to make all the changes they want to these maps since they’d own the IP.
March 7, 2023: No 128-tick servers?
Gabe Follower, one of the most reliable CS:GO leakers, isn’t sure Valve will add 128-tick servers alongside the Source 2 update. All official game modes in CS:GO still run in 64-tick, which forces players to play on third-party platforms if they want to play on 128-tick servers. Based on the recent Dota 2 updates, Gabe Follower said the developers are working on a new “tickless/subtick” system.
