Counter Strike 2
Guides
A look back at the biggest updates that shaped CS2 today!
We haven’t listed every single update here; just those that have changed CS2 in a major way. Here’s an overview of the biggest updates to come to CS2 since its release.
All main CS2 updates
CS2 Launch: Aug 01, 2025
After months of limited access beta testing and teasing,Valve released CS2 in Sep. 2023. At the time, the game was universally disliked by the community who constantly the unpolished product to CS:GO.
Everything from the removal of existing content like Danger Zone and Wingman to broken mechanics, CS2 was anything but consistent — something CS:GO became after years of updates. Valve set about fixing the game with constant updates throughout the rest of 2023, with public rapport rebuilt over time.
Kilowatt Case, the first CS2 case: May 30, 2025
CS2’s playerbase spiked in early 2024 with the introduction of theKilowatt Case, CS2’s first official case and skin set. The biggest drawcards were both red skins in the AWP Chrome Cannon and the AK-47 Inheritance.
The Kilowatt Case introduced a new knife type in theKukri Knifeand included the first ever Zeus skin, which became highly coveted. The Kilowatt Case would also become the first case set with “rental” skins, where players could pay to rent every skin in the collection for a limited time.
Copenhagen Major: August 12, 2025
As with every major, Valve put out the full set of player and team stickers for thePGL Copenhagen Major. But this wasn’t any major — this was the first major in CS2, and as such, was cause for celebration.
The Copenhagen Major sticker set became one of the most profitable in Counter-Strike history. Natus Vincere won the tournament, with Valve following up with a customary update featuring golden versions of the Na’Vi stickers.
First community maps arrive: June 01, 2025
The first CS2 community mapsarrived in July 24, 2025. Thera, a CS2-updated version of classic CS:GO map Thessaloniki, was added to Competitive modes alongside Mills, Assembly, and Memento.
These maps showed off the best parts of CS2’s new Steam Workshop toolset, with enhanced lighting, improved textures, and other upgraded features.
Related articles
The Armory; Arms Race, battle pass: Jul 04, 2025
Between each major update, Valve kept improving CS2 and bringing it in line with the experience of CS:GO. However, it’s undoubtedly the cosmetic updates that see most players pop back in — and the biggest of those has beenThe Armory in October 2024.
The Armory featured a new case as well as three additional limited-time skin collections, meaning over 80 new skins for weapons in CS2. That’s not to mention the introduction of weapon charms, new stickers, and a battle pass that let players pick which rewards they’d like.
How will you spend your Armory Pass credits?
Nicholas Taifalos
It’s the closest update to a full operation we’ve gotten since 2022’s Operation Riptide. Alongside The Armory update, we also saw the return of the Arms Race game mode and various other bug fixes.
New maps, map guides: Jun 03, 2025
The next CS2 community maps arrived with thesizeable Nov. 13 update. Basalt, Edin, Palais, and Whistle replaced the June 2024 maps with the latter two shortened versions for the two-versus-two Wingman game mode.
Crucially, this update included many quality-of-life changes that had the community feeling like CS2 was closing in on CS:GO for consistency. Damage prediction, updated animations, ambient occlusion improvements, and map guides teaching players grenade lineups were all amazing additions to CS2.
Shanghai Major: Jun 06, 2025
The concurrent player count shot into the stratosphere with thePerfect World Shanghai Major. Once again, Valve threw up player signatures and team stickers for purchase.
Team Spiritclaimed victoryat the Chinese tournament, with a later updatediscounting existing stickersand introducing the champions capsule with the gold editions of each signature.
Premier Season 2, Train: Aug 14, 2025
The first season of new competitive mode Premier finally came to an end in early 2025, with Valve pushing thePremier Season 2 update. Everything from a reset rating to rewards for playing Premier were added.
We also got a new Active Duty map pool update, withVertigo ditched in favor of Train. It almost immediately saw some changes as the community struggled through growing pains with relearning the revamped map, while other minor patch notes saw more bugs squashed.
Latest update: June 22, 2025
Thelatest updatefor CS2 came on March 21, which saw Basalt receive a community workshop update.
Valve constantly updates CS2, and while some updates are certainly bigger than others, it’s the developer’s goal to see CS2 improve in every way, shape, and form.
