The latest Counter-Strike 2 update is here, and it brings a wealth of new content, gameplay adjustments, and technical improvements that fans will want to dive into. From the introduction of the Shanghai 2024 Major Hub to a new music kit and important map fixes, let’s break down everything new in this patch.
1. Shanghai 2024 Major Hub
One of the most exciting additions in this update is the launch of the Shanghai 2024 Major Hub. Here’s what you can expect:
- Viewer Pass & Pick’Em Challenge: Players can purchase a Shanghai 2024 Viewer Pass to unlock a variety of features, including an upgradable Shanghai 2024 Coin and souvenir packages earned through the Pick’Em Challenge. This fan-favorite feature lets players predict match outcomes and earn rewards.
- Free Pick’Em Picks for Prime Users: Even without a pass, Prime players can place free Pick’Em picks. However, to complete challenges and earn stage-specific rewards, activating a Viewer Pass before that stage begins is necessary.
- Leaderboard System: The Active Pass Leaderboard allows players to compare their Pick’Em Challenge performance with friends, adding an extra layer of competition.
2. New Music Kit: “Ay Hey” by Perfect World
If you’re looking to spice up your gameplay with new sounds, the “Ay Hey” music kit by Perfect World is now available. It comes in both standard and StatTrak versions, letting players personalize their in-game experience further.
3. Gameplay Enhancements: Fairer and Smoother Movement
To address movement exploits, a new setting, “sv_quantize_movement_input”, has been added:
- Prevents Fractional Speed Exploits: By default, this setting stops players from using analog binds to move at fractional speeds that the game wasn’t designed to handle, ensuring a more balanced and competitive experience.
Additionally, server stability has been improved:
- Weapon Persistence Fix: Weapons will no longer disappear during mid-match game mode changes from competitive to deathmatch and back.
4. Annotations: Expanded and Improved Tools for Communication
For players and map makers who use annotations, several updates have enhanced functionality:
- Text Background Toggle: Now, you can turn off text backgrounds for cleaner visuals.
- Expanded Grenade Support: Annotations now support grenade types beyond just smokes.
- Node Limit Increase: The maximum annotation nodes have been tripled, from 100 to 300.
- Particle Effect Cleanup Fix: The issue with leftover particle effects from deleted nodes has been resolved, improving clarity.
5. Miscellaneous Fixes and Weapon Rental
Weapon Rentals: Players can now rent weapons from all previous CS:GO weapon cases, offering more customization options.
- Delta Ticks Diagnostics: New policy settings, sv_deltaticks_enforce and sv_deltaticks_log, aim to diagnose and resolve disconnect issues caused by delta ticks being out of order.
- Chat Localization Fix: An unlocalized #SLOT prefix in chat has been corrected.
- Broadcast Playcast Webserver Reference: A reference implementation for CS2 broadcast playcasts is now available for developers on Valve’s wiki, supporting esports broadcasting improvements.
6. Map Updates: Basalt and Train
The patch delivers key map updates, particularly focusing on competitive integrity and visual enhancements:
Basalt
- The map has been updated to the latest version from the Community Workshop.
Train
- Gap Fixes & Collision Upgrades: Addressing gameplay issues, various gaps and collision problems have been resolved.
- New Blockers in Bombsite B: To prevent unfair sightlines, blockers have been added near the train.
- Visual Fixes: A range of visual bugs have been polished, improving clarity and immersion.
Final Thoughts
This update not only gears up players for the competitive excitement of the Shanghai 2024 Major but also enhances gameplay fairness and server stability. Whether you’re into customizing your experience with music kits or diving into the Pick’Em Challenge, this patch brings something for everyone.
