In ten years of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, we got eleven operations. In two years of CS2 — none. So, does that mean an operation is coming soon? Not exactly. The CS.MONEY Blog takes a closer look at this question and tries to figure out when the next operation might arrive.
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What is an operation?
An operation is a paid DLC for the game that brings new content. The content of operations has changed over time, but the most recent ones included:
- new maps
- new game modes
- new skins and stickers, plus cases in the in-game store
- new agents
- new gameplay features, like the ability to drop grenades
In other words, every operation is a big batch of content along with an overall game update. Sounds great — so what’s the problem? The problem is that it’s been over three years since the last operation ended.
Why hasn’t Valve released a new operation?
Nobody knows. The company is famous for keeping quiet when it comes to communicating with the player base. There have been no announcements, no leaks with a specific start date. Dataminers also haven’t found any solid reason why operations are being delayed. Some mechanics from past operations, like missions, are already in the game.
When will the next CS2 operation come out?
Maybe tomorrow, maybe never. The only sure thing right now is that it’s been a record amount of time since the last operation ended.
Possible release dates could include the anniversary of the Counter-Strike series. The first Counter-Strike officially launched on November 9, 2000 — almost 25 years ago. It’s very likely Valve has something planned for that date, maybe even the twelfth operation.
Some players think there won’t be a new operation because of the update to The Armory — the in-game shop that uses stars as currency. It includes not just skins, but also new cases, limited items, stickers, and even charms, which appeared after CS2’s release. The Armory could be the next step in how operations work, but most players — and us too — are still waiting for a real operation.
What could be in the next CS2 operation?
Unlike the release date, the potential content of the next operation is a little clearer. Dataminers like МОЛЕКУРЯТНИК and Gabe Follower regularly dig through the game’s files and find new things or the return of older content. Here’s a partial list of what they’ve discovered:
- co-op mode
- chicken inspect animations
- comic system (used to tell stories in older operations)
- dual-blade knife
- new maps
- new skins
If the dev team does release an operation, it likely won’t be very different from what we saw in CS:GO. Expect new maps, new agents, the return of some game modes, and an overall update to the game.
Also, let’s not forget about the “elephants in the room” — maps. Valve owns the rights to Tuscan and Cache, and both are ready to be added to matchmaking. It’s quite possible that the next map rotation could be paired with the release of an operation.
So when is the CS2 operation coming? Only the developers know for sure. Until then, you can grab The Armory Pass, farm some stars, and try your luck. We even have a special guide for the The Armory Pass — make sure to check it out before you start farming those stars!
