On the last day of summer, Valve released… no, not Counter-Strike 2 (Valve Time is still a thing), but a significant update that marks the next step in CS history. CS.MONEY Blog will tell you all about the most important highlights from the latest CS2 patch, including the new MM system, new map Inferno, and more!
More and more players are diving into CS2 so the demand for skins might rise. If you’ve considered updating your inventory, there’s no need to delay! Rush to our special landing page where we explain all about CS2 skins, show how they look, compare prices and even give a bit of advice for investments! Go now!
New CS2 Map: Inferno. Video + HQ Screenshots
We’ve been eagerly waiting for Valve to introduce us to the CS2 version of Inferno. There were rumours of a major map overhaul, and what a beauty it turned out to be! Inferno looks gorgeous: despite the setting being more or less the same, the map has gained numerous interesting details, making its atmosphere more immersive and realistic.
Among the significant changes, the library has now become a wine cellar. We know cases where the names of certain map locations lost their literal meaning with time but remained in the players’ speech, so it will be interesting to see if people will still call it the library or think of something new.
Inferno HQ screenshots:
New Match Duration: MR12 and what is means
CS:GO has been critisized by the community over the past few years. People said that competitive matches took too much time and, thus, were less interesting to watch.
Valve found its solution. For a long time, the company has been fine-tuning the game balance to ensure as many rounds as possible were competitively meaningful. Indeed, if you look back at the early days of CS:GO, there were many more one-sided eco rounds. Now, even without money, teams find ways to fight and win.
For this reason, Valve decided to reduce the number of rounds in a match from 30 to 24. Now, to win a map, you need to secure 13 rounds. Some may say “Hey, that’s VALORANT!” while others would remember the very early days of Counter-Strike when matches were played in a similar format. For example, this was the case at WCG 2002, and it’s hard to watch a recording of that match now—too much time has passed.
Notably, the MR12 system will be immediately introduced into both regular matchmaking and the competitive circuit. The first CS2 Major will feature shorter matches. In theory, this should lead to more intense and action-packed matches. Only time will tell in practice, but fortunately, we don’t have to wait long.
New Rating, New Matchmaking in CS2
Valve has taken care of CS2 matchmaking very seriously. Data miners found hints of it a month ago, but, with the current announcement, the situation is much clearer.
For all ranking and numbers enthusiasts comes the Premier Mode, the pinnacle of CS2’s competitive ecosystem. Players will have specific ranking numbers and the game will introduce its own leaderboards. Something similar exists in Dota 2, and perhaps that’s why no third-party platforms like FaceIT in MOBAs were successful.
Premier will allow players to veto maps before a match, and the entire gaming experience should be as close to esports as possible.
The old competitive mode will still exist, but its role will be reduced to practice before Premier matches. Valve announced that a player’s rank will now be calculated separately for each map, so you can play on uncomfortable maps without fear that discomfort or poor performances would ruin your overall rating. Competitive mode essentially stops being the main mode for those who love grinding but will still be very useful.
Finally, casual modes are here to stay for those who don’t want to compete but simply enjoy the game in all its forms. Valve has put in serious work to ensure there’s an option for every player’s preference.
Beta Access for All! (Well, not all, but many)
Finally, possibly the most significant announcement is that Valve is significantly expanding access to the CS2 closed beta test. In order to receive an invite to the CS2 beta, your account needs to have the CS:GO Prime status, an active official competitive matchmaking Skill Group, and you must play the majority of official matchmaking games in one of the regions where the Limited Test is available. So, if you’re an active player in competitive mode, it’s time to log into CS:GO and check for an invite. Maybe it’s already waiting for you!
Counter-Strike 2 is more about the massive visual upgrade, which most of all affect skins. If you’re interested in upgrading your inventory, go to our special CS2-dedicated page and learn eveyrhting you need about skins, including the looks, the prices, and the investments tips!
