The Best Patch for Counter-Strike 2. Changes that Many Are Waiting for and Will Make the Game Better.
Counter-Strike 2 continues to evolve, and the player community actively discusses possible improvements that could make the game even more engaging and fair. Many features we want to bring back from CS:GO or borrow from others, while some are fantasies of ordinary players and esports athletes. In this article, we will look at key proposals for improving CS2 that should satisfy the needs of most of the community.
New Anti-Cheat
Fighting cheaters remains one of the main tasks for CS2 developers. Despite existing VAC systems, some players continue to use prohibited programs, which negatively affects the gaming experience. Implementing a more effective anti-cheat, possibly using machine learning technologies, could significantly reduce the number of violators and increase trust in the system. It is reported that even after the implementation of the new VAC Live software, hackers still find ways to bypass the system, which emphasizes the need for constant improvement of protection mechanisms.
Interestingly, according to VALVE, they have long had a 100% solution to the problem, but it requires gaining full control over players’ devices. According to a cybersecurity specialist, Valve doesn’t want to make kernel-level anti-cheat to avoid collecting too much information about users. Many experts also say that such anti-cheat would negatively affect performance and could cause blue screen errors, as happens in Valorant.
Improved Matchmaking System
Fair matchmaking is another key to player satisfaction. The current selection system sometimes leads to uneven matches, where beginners face experienced players or smurfs, worsening the gaming experience. Implementing a system that takes into account the number of hours spent in the game and player skills will create more balanced teams. According to analyst Richard Lewis, with the release of CS2, an improved matchmaking system with similar functions was planned, which could reduce the need to use third-party services for playing. However, they turned out to be faster, and FACEIT once again took care of the players, adapting and implementing this idea before VALVE.
Regular Battle Pass Releases
The community has been waiting for more than three years for the release of an operation, which is absolutely unimaginable in Dota 2, where VALVE regularly holds various events. Yes, there is a nuance that most cosmetic items in Dota2 cannot be sold, but if there is a skin rental feature, why not implement something similar in the form of rewards for Battle Pass in CS2. You actively play on servers, and developers reward you with temporary items that disappear from your inventory after the event ends. Introducing such a mechanic can encourage players to stay on the official game servers and not look for third-party services where various skin changers are actively used. We could go further and issue some skins with “Cannot be exchanged” status, but then the value of items available for sale and exchange would disappear, which would hardly please players who have been forming their inventories for years.
New Game Modes
Adding various game modes, similar to “Danger Zone” from CS:GO, will enrich the gameplay and attract a wider audience that loved the shooting mechanics from CS but are fans of Battle Royale. Also, recently in CS2, a “Subway Smurfers” mod appeared, in which players can enjoy gameplay inspired by the popular mobile game “Subway Surfers.” This map is available for download in the Steam Workshop and demonstrates the potential for introducing new and exciting modes directly into the game. Developers could buy the rights to such products and increase online presence on official servers.
Returning the official “Retake” mode will allow players to practice skills in real game situations, which can significantly improve their tactical abilities and speed up adaptation in the game.
Convenient Training for Beginners
To attract and retain new players, it is necessary to create intuitive and effective training modes. These modes should teach basic mechanics, tactics, and strategies, allowing beginners to adapt faster and start enjoying the game. VALVE’s progress in this direction is already visible, for example, in hints and grenade usage training on the Train map. At the very least, it’s worth expanding the pool of maps where this will become available. One can also think about creating various training grounds where beginners will be explained how most existing mechanics work: how to learn to shoot, how grenades work (how many seconds they work, how they can be used), how the economy works, and much more.
Quick Mode. Overtime Play.
Such a mode was once even used on the pro scene, for example, at IEM Katowice 2017 in the match between FaZe and Immortals. This was done to decide who and in what position would advance from the group. The team that first wins four rounds out of six will be the winner. Thus, the confrontation can end already with a score of 4:2 or even 4:0, or it may continue if the first six rounds end 3:3.
Three rounds will be played per side. There will be no pistol rounds in the match, as each user will have $10,000 in their account. Such a mode will allow players to instantly move to gun rounds and will help separately practice playing in overtimes as training.
Adding New Types of Weapons
Certainly, from a global perspective, such changes will affect the usual gameplay, and adding them to official competitions or matchmaking is definitely not worth it. But if the use of various tactical devices on hostage maps is allowed, it will help return the classic mode to its former popularity. For example, the installation of cameras, tripwires, reconnaissance drones, shields, etc. will make the game similar to tactical shooters like Rainbow Six Siege, where the defense gets time to prepare for defending against an attack from the offense.
Conclusion
Counter-Strike has long proven that it is capable of evolving while preserving the spirit of a classic shooter. The main thing is for Valve to listen to the community and not ignore third-party developers and ordinary enthusiasts, but strive to improve their own product.
Ultimately, the development of CS2 depends not only on the developers but also on the players themselves who form the community and move the game forward. Therefore, despite all the difficulties, we need to criticize less and suggest more, so that some of the innovations described above become a reality. Will this happen? Time will tell.
