He Counter Strike 2 Maps have been truly transformed with the implementation of the Source 2 engine, resulting in a variety of visually stunning environments. After weeks of speculation, Valve has pulled back the curtain on its highly anticipated FPS that has been in development for three years.
Counter-Strike 2 is a free update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, reusing a number of important elements that fans know and love, such as CSGO console controls and the CSGO ranking system. While the free-to-play PC game retains the same competitive energy, Valve has put a fresh coat of paint on the maps and visuals. Here are the confirmed Counter-Strike 2 maps we know of so far.
Valve has divided the new cards into three categories based on their design changes: overhaul, update, and touchstone. Revision is for maps that have been revamped from top to bottom, updates represent maps with improved lighting, and Touchstone maps are adjusted to areas that need some attention. Officially, the developer hasn’t revealed all the maps yet, but some maps were revealed in the Counter-Strike 2: Leveling Up The World trailer.
Here are the competitive Counter-Strike 2 maps revealed so far:
- Ancient
- dust 2
- Hell
- nuclear armament
- Mirage
- Exceed
- Form
Ancient
Ancient was added to CSGO as a replacement for Train, and will be retained in Counter-Strike 2. Ancient’s jungle aesthetic was already a feast for the eyes, but it’s even better in Source 2.
Ancient is popular for its greenery and puddles. In Counter-Strike 2, the water appears more textured, which adds a nice touch to the decor of the map. However, since Ancient is a new card, it may not have many design changes and land in the Upgrade or Touchstone category.
dust 2
Dust 2 is a Touchstone map in Counter-Strike 2, which means Valve kept the layout exactly the same and improved the lighting in a few key areas.
The most notable lighting change is to CT-Spawn and Tunnels. Both areas were previously lit with a dim silver light, but these have now been replaced with cool yellow bulbs. Other areas of the maps are also much brighter to greatly improve character readability, making it easier to spot enemy models. Due to the Source 2 render, Dust 2 looks much more spacious, although the layout is the same.
Hell
The CSGO Inferno map has always been a feast for the eyes, but with the latest Source 2 engine update, it is breathtaking. With minor Touchstone changes, Inferno will join the list of competitive maps in Counter-Strike 2.
The cobblestones are brighter, and due to the changes in light, the alleys appear much wider than they actually are. As Inferno is famous for its wacky chickens, it would be interesting to see what Valve might have in store for these feathered friends in the latest iteration of the map.
nuclear armament
Nuke is in the upgrade category because of its great improvements. The layout of the location remains the same, but the textures and models used to build the maps have undergone a transformation.
Most of the upgrades seen in Nuke take place inside the main buildings – Valve has been hard at work improving the hallways and the two bomb sites. The reflections on the floor and on the ramp are also very noticeable. Site A is bathed in sunlight, while the underground B area retains the dark blue but with better images. The reds and yellows are also much brighter, a detail that was missing in CSGO.
Mirage
Mirage in Counter-Strike 2 is a visual spectacle to behold. Compared to CSGO, Mirage Palace shines with expensive tiles. The highlights are so crisp it looks like the mosaics have been meticulously polished to a mirror finish.
Outside of the Palace, Mirage largely resembles its CSGO counterpart, colors aside. However, the reflections and rich color palette breathe new life into the dusty place, delivering a stunning and immersive gaming experience.
Exceed
The overpass has undergone a complete overhaul, according to Valve. As a result, the German park looks much fresher, with major visual tweaks in Counter-Strike 2.
The changes to Overpass are so drastic that players will find it hard to believe they’ve ever played the map without it, especially the underpass which was hard to block for a long time due to poor lighting. The stuffy area looks much more spacious in decent light. The developer also placed new balloons on the party benches, adding a pop of color to the dark decor.
Form
Finally, Train, a map taken from active duty, will remain in Counter-Strike 2. It’s unknown if Train will return to the dynamic competitive pool, but fans will be happy to know that Valve isn’t abandoning it altogether.
These are all the confirmed Counter-Strike 2 maps we know of at this point. You don’t have to wait much longer for the Counter-Strike 2 release date as it will be officially playable in the summer of 2023. For those who are still unsure about Counter-Strike 2 changes coming to the game FPS, it’s worth taking a closer look. Find out what’s in store for you, including map redesigns, reactive smokes, and many other exciting features that promise to make Valve’s latest FPS a game-changer.