- There are rumors circulating that Valve may be releasing a new version of CS:GO, possibly called Counter Strike 2 or CS:GO Source 2.
- However, there is some confusion and conflicting reports regarding the upcoming release, with some sources indicating that it will be an updated version of CS:GO running on the Source 2 engine, rather than a completely new game.
- Despite the uncertainty, the enduring popularity of Counter Strike is evident, with the game recently breaking its all-time concurrent PC user peak, more than a decade after its initial launch.
Fans of Counter-Strike, get ready – there are rumors that a new version of CS:GO, potentially named Counter-Strike 2, is in the works. While there has been no official statement from Valve, Steam, or any other party, recent reports suggest that this may be a possibility.
Counter Strike 2 beta might be on its way
According to a leak from NVIDIA, executable files labeled “cs2” and “csgo2” have been uncovered, leading to speculation that a Counter Strike 2 beta version could be released as early as later this month. At this time, it is difficult to determine whether this is a genuine leak or a hoax, so further updates are needed to confirm the existence of Counter Strike 2 beta.
In addition to the NVIDIA driver update leak, @gabefollower, a well-known leaker of Counter Strike information, tweeted about the new game version, adding further intrigue. Journalist Richard Lewis has also contributed to the conversation, confirming that a new version of Counter Strike: Global Offensive is in the works and speculating that it will likely be called CS2. While there is no official confirmation from Valve or Steam, the increasing number of sources discussing the game’s possible release suggests that a beta version of Counter Strike 2 could be just around the corner.
Lewis also says that “the tentative release date for the beta is in this month of March with April 1st at the outside.”
While some sources are reporting that the “cs2.exe” file found in the NVIDIA driver update is outdated and no longer relevant, and that there are no separate games being developed that could impact players’ skins, others suggest that a new version of Counter-Strike could still be in development. Instead, they claim that a Source 2 game is currently in the works, which is a separate project from any Counter-Strike games.
It remains to be seen whether this Source 2 game will be related to Counter-Strike in any way, but for now, it appears that players’ skins are safe and that the focus is on other developments. Regardless, fans are eagerly awaiting any updates on the status of Counter Strike 2 beta.
Something weird just happened. Latest NVIDIA drivers introduced support for unknown app executables called "csgos2.exe" and "cs2.exe". Why project is called Counter-Strike 2 and what are you cooking @csgo? https://t.co/U9YKlAjwgy pic.twitter.com/PU8Op9uGLq
— Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) March 1, 2023
“I’ve got fairly reliable information that Valve has been testing CS:GO on Source 2 with the help of third-party QA companies in the US and EU since at least early December. I can’t confirm this 100 per cent, but it’s decent enough to share,” @gabefollower told.
Given the conflicting reports and speculation surrounding the possible release of Counter Strike 2 beta, it is not surprising that there is some confusion and uncertainty about what the game will ultimately entail. Until Valve, Steam, or another official source provides more information, fans of the series will have to wait and see what the future holds for this beloved franchise.
According to @gabefollower the new game will not be a separate entity from the current game, but rather an updated version of CS:GO running on the Source 2 engine. This means that player skins will still be available in the updated version of the game.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming release, the enduring popularity of Counter-Strike is clear, with the game breaking its all-time concurrent PC user peak 11 years after its original launch on Steam. In fact, just last month, the game hit an all-time high of 1.3 million concurrent players, demonstrating that the game continues to be a major force in the gaming industry more than two decades after its inception.
