Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is the competitive multiplayer FPS developed by Valve. Released in September 2023, it is the fifth installment in the series, and the biggest FPS esports title to date. Competitive CS2 gameplay is standard round-based Terrorists vs Counter-Terrorists bomb-defusal scenarios. Plenty of other game modes are available, yet the original mode is still the most popular among players and viewers alike. As the sequel to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, CS2 remains a dominant esports title with an established competitive scene and plenty of betting markets.
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Counter-Strike 2 Latest News

Counter-Strike
June 4, 2025

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Complexity-NRG derby headline Day 2

The first day of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 1 has wrapped up, and Complexity vs. NRG will be controversial be the most interesting matchup of Day 2. This…
Counter-Strike
June 3, 2025

Counter-Strike Esports World Cup 2025 Invitations Revealed

The highly anticipated Esports World Cup 2025 has just announced the elite Counter-Strike teams invited to compete in the $1.25 million prize pool event. The tournament is set to take…
Counter-Strike
June 3, 2025

Nicoodoz sets CS2 record with historic performance vs. Complexity at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

OG’s Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi has had the best individual performance a pro player has ever had in a CS2 match on a big LAN. The Dane put on a true…
Counter-Strike
June 3, 2025

ESL announces IEM Cologne 2025 invites

ESL has announced on June 3 all the invites for IEM Cologne 2025, which will be played between July and August. Curiously, ESL chose to release the list while all…
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Counter-Strike 2 Matches and Odds

European Pro League
04/07/2025 08:00 UTC
GenOne
vs.
Aab
Exort Series
04/07/2025 09:30 UTC
Phantom Esports
vs.
Flame Sharks
United21
04/07/2025 10:30 UTC
XI
vs.
Aab
European Pro League
04/07/2025 10:30 UTC
Prestige
vs.
ENERGYULTRA
Exort Series
04/07/2025 12:30 UTC
Baks
vs.
HyperSpirit
Odds are provided by 3rd party esportsbooks for information purposes only and are subject to fluctuation. Last Updated: 04/07/2025 - 07:30 UTC
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Counter-Strike 2 Tournaments

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Teams, Format & Prize Pool
Counter-Strike
IEM Katowice 2025 – Teams, Schedule & Format
Counter-Strike

IEM Katowice 2025 – Teams, Schedule & Format

29th January - 09th February
BLAST Bounty Season 1 – Teams, Format, & Watch Live
Counter-Strike
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CS2 Esports & Game OverviewThe top first-person shooter esports game in the world

Counter-Strike 2 is the biggest competitive FPS title for PC players. Its release in 2023 carried on the legacy of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, instantly cementing itself as one of the biggest esports titles in the world.

CS2 is a completely online multiplayer experience. While players can play offline against AI-controlled enemies, Valve definitely had competitive and tense player-versus-player gameplay in mind when they carefully crafted the original Counter-Strike formula all those years ago. Nowadays, you can jump into Premier, and find your place as a top CS2 player in the world.

A Shooter Unlike Any Other

There’s nothing out there quite like Counter-Strike 2. Raw mechanics will only take you so far, with every game playing out like a chess match, where players have to predict their opponent’s next move at every stage.

This is why CS2 has arguably the highest skill ceiling of any esports title. You can spend all of your time practicing your aim, but without game sense, nothing matters.


Gameplay & Game ModesGuns at the Ready

At its very core, CS2 is a shooter, which means players will find themselves wielding any number of deadly guns in one of Counter-Strike’s carefully designed maps, attempting to gun down an opposing team of players before they themselves get filled with lead.

For performing specific actions within a game (killing another player, completing an objective etc), the player receives money, which they’ll use in between games (or even rounds, depending on the game type) to purchase deadlier weapons, equipment and armor.

  • Terrorists (or Ts) are one of the two forces featured in the Counter-Strike series, opposing the Counter-Terrorists. To win, the Ts must either eliminate the CTs, or plant the bomb and protect it until it explodes.
  • Counter-Terrorists (or CTs) have the objective of preventing bombs from being planted, eliminating the Ts, or defusing the bomb in the event it has been planted.

CS2 Game Modes

 Unlike other mainstream shooters, Counter-Strike 2 doesn’t bombard its players with a plethora of game modes to dive into. Instead, the typical concept of CS’ precise gameplay is carried over to more alternative modes of play.

Here are all the main casual and competitive game modes in Counter-Strike 2, and a bit about what you can expect:

Bomb Defusal

This is how Counter-Strike is meant to be played. Bomb Defusal is widely accepted to be the most balanced game mode, and is the only mode played in competitive tournaments. It is played out in rounds, in which one team of 5 must attempt to defuse a bomb from a predesignated location, and the other team of 5 must work to stop them from doing so.

Deathmatch

This is Counter-Strike 2’s version of the standard Deathmatch mode found in most online shooters. Mostly played as a free-for-all, Deathmatch sees players compete to earn the most points possible, with the top player taking the crown. While it’s great for casual players to learn the ropes, Deathmatch is also perfect for warm-up aim training before jumping into more competitive modes.

Hostage Rescue

This mode is pretty self-explanatory: the Terrorists attempt to keep the Counter-Terrorists from rescuing any hostages, and both sides must wipe each other out to achieve victory. This one is a great mix of objective and kill-based gameplay, and definitely serves as a healthy change of pace from the constant twitch-shooting mania that goes on in most of Counter-Strike 2’s game modes.

Wingman

Wingman is extremely similar to Bomb Defusal, except it’s played in 2v2 fashion. Instead of two bomb sites, Wingman maps have just one site each, making for extremely fast-paced gameplay.

CS2 Maps

If you follow the Counter-Strike 2 esports scene, then you probably know that there are 7 maps being played in the “Active Duty” map pool. Below, you can find a list of those maps:

  • Ancient
  • Anubis
  • Dust II
  • Inferno
  • Mirage
  • Nuke
  • Train

Occasionally, Valve removes a certain map from the Active Duty pool, to bring back another fan favorite. Currently, Overpass and Vertigo are in the reserve map pool.

These changes add a huge variety to the game itself, and it is easy to spot that Valve really takes care of this game. All in all, the future is definitely bright for CS2.


CS2 SkinsUnique Designs For All Tastes

skins that the community finds very popular. These are exactly as you might expect: simple skins that change the colour of a player’s weapon, sometimes adding a pattern or picture. You can even customize them further, by adding stickers.

Most CS2 weapon skins are made by Valve. However, plenty are submitted by the community, going through a vetting process before making their way into the game. 

CS2 skins can be purchased for real money by players, allowing them to personally customize their weapons in-game. It’s an enormous market, with many skins out there costing well beyond $10,000. That said, there are plenty of cheaper skins too, so the market has something for every budget.


Competitive CS2Pros and Cons of CS2 Esports

CS2 is undoubtedly one of the most popular video games in the world. Its unique combination of intense, flick-shooter action and tactical objective-based gameplay make Counter-Strike 2 both exciting and rewarding.

For fans and players, the esports scene is an exhilarating experience enjoyed by millions of spectators across the globe. Plenty of third-party organizers host tournaments from amateur to pro level. Following on the legacy of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, CS2 maintains one of the biggest esports scenes in the world.


Counter-Strike 2 WageringCS2 Betting is the most popular form of esports betting

CS2 betting is big business, and enjoyed by millions of bettors across the world. It can be a great way to add personal stakes to even the most boring of matches. From simple picks in Fantasy CS2 to complex system slips at various CS2 betting sites, there’s no doubt that Counter-Strike is an absolute powerhouse in the industry.

Plenty of bookmakers feature daily odds and unique CS2 bonuses for competitive matches. We make it our duty to give you the best insight, about special offers and unique ways on how to turn your enjoyment of this game into a profit.


Our experienceAt Esports.net we're sure that CS2 is worth a shot

Counter-Strike 2 was one of the most anticipated releases of 2023. From its unlikely announcement earlier in the year, right up until its release, gamers were curious about what Valve could possibly cook up to carry on Counter-Strike’s legacy.

The signs are promising that Valve has done it again, crafting the perfect FPS to dominate the competitive esports space for the next decade to come.

If you’re on the fence about playing CS2 and following the esports scene, there’s never been a more perfect time to pick it up.


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