2023 has been a year of mixed fortunes for the Counter-Strike series of games, as the release of CS2 has taken this series onto a new level. It hasn’t been a completely smooth transition though, with falling player counts and poor reviews stopping it from a successful introduction So what’s the outlook like for CS2.
The Full Details of How It Was Received
When Counter-Strike 2 was revealed to the world the early reviews were positive, as critics pointed out the enhancements that were added to the gameplay for this new version. This review confirms that casual players probably won’t notice too much difference from CS: GO although the likes of maps and grenades have been improved.
The majority of critics were positive about the introduction of the new game, pointing out that it wasn’t all that different from the previous instalment but that some interesting changes helped to make it a fresh new take on the Counter-Strike universe.
Moreover, experts state that the addition of smoke and high explosive grenades is one of the few major overhauls to the CS:GO gameplay that adds excitement while the improved color and brightness is a welcome change.
The Reaction of Fans
While the team at Valve probably had some fears about the reaction of hard-core fans to the new game, they couldn’t possibly have expected the backlash it received. Online forums were ablaze with complaints of bugs and how key elements like shooting felt off. Even the Limited Test confirmed here that it didn’t help to get it off to a smooth start.
It’s notoriously difficult to get new game releases just right and the developers were obviously working under the intense pressure of trying to improve on one of the most popular video games ever created. It’s also worth noting that previous instalments of Counter-Strike have gotten off to difficult starts.
However, nothing prepared us for the hundreds of thousands of negative reviews that exploded online as fans were quick to express their dislike of the new title. In fact, it soon became the lowest rated Valve game on Steam as the public gave it disastrous ratings.
Even some of the industry’s top streamers spoke out with harsh criticism of CS2. Michael Grzesiek was a pro player who now earns a living as a streamer, and he said that CS2 was so bad that it could end up killing off the franchise.
So, what are the exact issues? Experienced players speak of the movement not being as smooth and the shooting being less precise. It isn’t easy for less experienced players to spot all these differences, but it’s led to a general perception that CS2 isn’t as good as CS: GO and isn’t as precise as it should be.
The Issue with Player Counts
Perhaps the problem with CS2 is most clearly seen in the falling player counts that we’ve seen in 2023. CS: GO reached its highest ever level in May, with 1.8 million players taking part concurrently at that point. This was the second-higher total ever seen on Steam and came just after the announcement of the new CS2 game.
This led to the belief that the player count for CS2 would be even better than it had been for CS: GO, which was regularly at the top of the list of the most popular games. Yet, when CS2 was released at the end of September the player count collapsed. In fact, a drop of over 16% was noted in the first month that the new game was available. That’s not to say that no one plays it. Counter-Strike 2 is the second most popular game on Steam.
Esports is another area where Counter-Strike has long been popular, and many organizers have announced that they’ll be switching to CS2 at the upcoming tournaments. This is not arbitrary, however, as it reflects the game’s enduring popularity and ability to adjust to the ever-growing esports industry. If you decide to bet on Counter Strike 2, know that tournaments like the BLAST Premier and the CCT Online Finals are among the highlights of the CS2 calendar, which not only showcase top-tier talent but also serve as a battleground for teams to master the newest dynamics of the game.
What Might Happen Next?
It seems unlikely that the Counter-Strike series loses its appeal for all players, but there’s no doubt that the introduction of CS2 has been less than ideal. Most of the adverse reaction has come from the experienced players who are unhappy with the changes that were meant to be enhancements. Obviously, this has affected other players who see the negative reviews and assume that it’s not a good game.
For casual players, this is a simply an enjoyable shooter that doesn’t fall all that different from CS: GO. Therefore, it seems highly likely that millions of people will happily carry on playing the latest CS2 version once the wave of negative publicity is over and they see the game for what it really is.
