Season 2 of Premier Mode in CS2. Overview of all updates and potential changes. Will there be a new VACNET 3.0 anti-cheat?
We’re used to VALVE doing things their way, not paying much attention to the competitive scene. So it’s no surprise that in the middle of the BLAST Bounty Season 1 playoffs, the developers announced a major update. Next week, the first season of Premier Mode, which lasted almost a year and a half, will come to an end. All points will be reset, and participants will receive a commemorative coin. In this article, we cover the latest news and what VALVE has decided to keep behind the scenes.
Why did VALVE prepare the community for the announcement?
One of the biggest surprises was the announcement of the upcoming update — instead of the usual sudden changes that appear out of nowhere. There’s no exact explanation, but the community links this to the closure of access to certain game files.
“Counter-Strike developers have closed access to the dpr (developer pre-release) branch, so we won’t be seeing updates until their public release.” – Gabe Follower (insider)
Most likely, VALVE wants to become the primary source of any changes and avoid rumors during various tests. Opinions among players are divided: many disapprove of this decision, but the idea of sharing information about upcoming changes in advance has received a warm reception.
“There’s something pleasant about knowing what CS2 has in store for the next updates. I have something to look forward to, and I can already start thinking about how to adapt to the changes. A simple thing, like announcing changes in the map pool. Even if it’s just for a week — it changes a lot. Or am I wrong?” – STYKO (pro-player and analyst)
What will change in the second season of Premier Mode?
When the second season begins, every player will receive a commemorative medal to mark the end of the first season, which lasted a very long time. Many players had already forgotten about the promised regular resets of the rankings, which raised the main question: will it be a complete reset, or will past achievements (and possibly failures) still be stored in archives, not letting anyone start with a clean slate?
By the way, according to one insider, it was enough to have earned a rating at least once to receive the reward, rather than maintaining it actively. However, from the next season onwards, having a rating will likely become mandatory, as the developers have already shown a concept of medals in different colors reflecting the number of points earned.
Gameplay Changes
Now let’s move on to the more significant announcements that will affect not only Premier Mode but also gameplay changes: Train will replace Vertigo and will be available during the map pick and ban phase at the beginning of each match.
While the first news wasn’t surprising, the change in the cost of the M4A4 and FAMAS generated much more discussion. Moreover, FAMAS will get improved accuracy when shooting both standing and crouching, which should significantly affect the weapon’s popularity. Or maybe not? We think it will all depend on the final cost of the weapon because the MP9 is too good and often used in partial buys. The community immediately flooded the developers with questions about the updated prices for both weapons and received mixed answers.
The answer about the M4A1-S without a suppressor seems plausible (M4A1-S and M4A4 prices are equalized – $2900), but after a sarcastic screenshot showing FAMAS at $300, it makes you think. Nevertheless, we tend to trust the information about the M4A4, as it looks quite reasonable. On the other hand, it’s possible that it could be reduced to the price of the AK-47 ($2700) or, for example, the M4A1-S could become more expensive.
As for the cost of FAMAS, the developers are more likely to equalize the price with its counterpart for the attacking side – Galil AR ($1800). With every update, VALVE tries to balance the sides as much as possible, which is quite relevant for the reduced MR12 format, so such a buff for the CT side looks like a standard move in recent updates.
What will happen to the prices of FAMAS and M4A4 skins?
Just a few days later, an increase in demand for both weapons was noticed, and if the update proves to be significant, this demand may increase even more. Therefore, here are the best options where price and visual appeal are optimally balanced:
M4A4:
- M4A4 | In Living Color (Field-Tested) – $6.48
- M4A4 | Neo-Noir (Field-Tested) – $8.34
- M4A4 | Desolate Space (Field-Tested) – $7.34
- M4A4 | Tooth Fairy (Field-Tested) – $3.50
- M4A4 | Turbine (Minimal Wear) – $4.05
FAMAS:
- FAMAS | Rapid Eye Movement (Field-Tested) – $1.80
- FAMAS | Roll Cage (Field-Tested) – $3.41
- FAMAS | Mecha Industries (Field-Tested) – $4.79
- FAMAS | ZX Spectron (Field-Tested) – $2.28
- FAMAS | Valence (Field-Tested) – $3.19
What else can we expect from the update?
The community certainly expects that the seasonal changes will occur regularly and may align with the winter and summer parts of the professional scene. But most importantly, all game enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the addition of the new Anti-Cheat system, and according to insiders, there are certain indications for this.
Recently, developers have been regularly activating and deactivating different anti-cheat modules every few months, but in the last month, VALVE has started to enable all components at once. According to Gabe Follower, the results of this have been “extremely positive.”
How does the new Anti-Cheat work?
When a suspicious player is detected on a server, the VACnet bot connects and tracks their actions. It appears that the bot activates on both the server and client side, which may cause lags and reduced FPS for the potential cheater.
If the player continues to behave suspiciously for five rounds, they are automatically kicked from the server with a 24-hour ban, which significantly lowers their trust and restricts them to playing only with other rule-breakers.
“If they’re so confident in announcing the second season, it looks like we can expect the introduction of something like VACNET 3.0 along with the Premier Mode update.” – Gabe Follower
New Skins in the Arsenal Operation?
Aside from the gameplay updates, users are eagerly waiting for new content in the form of new skins. Recall that on January 15, 2025, the developers removed the limited Desert Eagle | Heat Treated from the store and did not replace it. The remaining items no longer motivate players to purchase passes and farm stars, so it would be nice to refresh the store’s selection.
But to be honest, we wouldn’t bet on this, as VALVE is probably relying on sales of passes with the new Premier season to drive sales.
Conclusion
Next week is sure to bring some surprises, and the biggest question is whether the developers will manage to make the changes before the start of IEM Katowice 2025, which kicks off on January 29.
