All that is known about Counter-Strike 2 maps.
After the announcements of Counter-Strike 2, some players can finally enjoy the gameplay. With the release of the first test versions of the game and making it available to fans, one can take a look at what maps will appear in the new CS. Although Counter-Strike 2 is actually a port of CS: GO, all familiar locations from previous installments will be significantly visually refreshed. Huge changes will also affect gameplay with brand new smoke physics or tick rate of servers.
Valve, sharing with fans the well-known maps that appeared in previous installments, has divided them into 3 groups – touchstone, upgrade, and overhaul. What exactly characterizes these categories and which maps will make their way into CS 2?
Maps in Counter-Strike 2
Maps familiar from CS: GO and earlier games in the Counter-Strike series will be revamped. Valve has divided them into 3 categories, which have already been mentioned above. However, what are the characteristics of each of them?
Touchstone
These are the maps that appeared in Counter-Strike for the longest time but also had the foundations of basic gameplay. Most of them landed in Active Duty, with changes mostly limited to visual and lighting improvements.
Upgrade
These are maps from CS: GO that have received major lighting and texture updates and now take advantage of the Source 2 engine’s capabilities. This category includes maps from both Active Duty and those known for Deathmatch mode.
Overhaul
The oldest maps known to the series will also appear in CS 2. They could be found in both CS: GO and previous installments. They will receive new textures, lighting, structures, and, most likely, changes that will alter how you play on your chosen map.
Which maps are being referred to exactly?
- Active Duty Pool
- Dust II
- Mirage
- Train
- Nuke
- Overpass
- Inferno
- Ancient
- Cobblestone
- Deathmatch, Hostage, and bomb defusing maps
- Tuscan
- Italy
- Baggage
Dust II
Dust 2 is one of Counter-Strike’s most iconic maps and practically the first thing associated with Valve’s game. So it was an obvious choice on the part of the developers to include it in the upcoming CS installment.
Dust 2 is a map classified as a touchstone, where the biggest changes will touch the lights. The rest will remain the same.
Mirage
One of Counter-Strike’s favorite maps, which was created for professional CS 1.6 games, is forever etched in the minds of players. It is the only map that has appeared in every major since its release and, of course, will also appear in CS 2.
Mirage has also been classified as a touchstone map. The lighting will be improved, while other elements will remain the same.
Train
The classic map created by one of the content creators back in the days of CS 1.6 is returning to the pool of active maps after it went into reserve in May 2021.
As with previous maps, Train will only be polished, so the only changes that will take place will touch the lights.
- ALSO – That’s how much Valve paid for the Tuscan map in CSGO. You can easily buy yourself a nice apartment
Nuke
Nuke has been regularly used in tournaments since CS 1.6, and that won’t change with the release of CS 2. The map will be improved, with changes to lighting, physics, and textures, among other things.
Overpass
Overpass is one of the most unique maps in the pool and is the only one from the Active Duty category that has been developed for CS: GO. It will be completely rebuilt, receiving new textures, lighting, structures and even gameplay changes.
Inferno
Inferno is one of the oldest maps that first appeared in CS 1.1. It is an absolute classic and will not be missed in CS 2. Like Overpass, it will be completely revamped.
Ancient
One of the freshest maps in the Active Duty pool, which is also the successor to Aztec. Like Nuke, it will be updated with new lighting, textures, and physics.
Cobblestone
Although Cobble has always been controversial, it has many fans who were disappointed with the map’s removal in 2019. However, showing it on the Source 2 engine indicates that the map will appear in CS 2. However, it is unclear how Valve will qualify the map.
Other maps
In addition to the aforementioned maps, there are several more worth mentioning. Their presence has not been confirmed, but they have undoubtedly gone down in the history of CS and should find their way into its next installment:
- Dust
- Office
- Agency
- Assault
- Aztec
Tuscan
Back in the days of CS 1.6, Tuscan was really quite popular, but its transition to CS: GO has left it behind. As of this moment, it is known that it has been qualified as a map for a complete overhaul, so it will receive quite a few changes and will appear in the next installment of Counter-Strike.
Italy
Another map that is associated with the very beginnings of CS. Players were able to play it as early as in the beta in 1999, and now it has been shown in a completely new edition on the Source 2 engine. Like the aforementioned Tuscan, Italy will be fully rebuilt.
Baggage
The map associated with the Arms Race mode will once again appear in Counter-Strike. Baggage will be improved with new lighting and textures.