Cut corners: It’s exhausting to say what Valve is greatest recognized for – creating the Half-Life sequence or by no means ending it. You could recall that Half-Life 2: Episode Two ended with a serious cliffhanger that would have been resolved in Episode Three if Valve hadn’t inexplicably dropped it.
Valve’s reside service sport Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (generally generally known as CS:GO) is in the same state of affairs. Multiplayer FPS would not want to finish. After all, it would not actually have a narrative. However, it’s a widespread aggressive shooter that also maintains a good variety of customers. Now it seems like the sport could also be getting a sequel, or at the very least a large replace.
The rumors began to boil when the official announcement was made CS:GO Twitter The account modified its banner picture a few week in the past. This has sparked gentle hypothesis on Reddit that Valve is getting ready to rebrand the sport or port it to the Source 2 engine or each. Then once more, the Twitter account change was a weak signal that something was actually occurring, so the scare died down fairly rapidly.
Then on March 1, information miners wanting on the newest Nvidia drivers seen the point out of two new recordsdata — csgos2.exe and cs2.exe (seemingly placeholders). They’re listed as a part of a brand new sport profile labeled “Counter-Strike 2.” This discovery has reignited rumors of a doable sequel to the sport, or extra seemingly a port of the unique sport to Source 2, as indicated by the csgos2.exe filename.
Something bizarre simply occurred. The newest NVIDIA drivers introduce assist for unknown utility executables named “csgos2.exe” and “cs2.exe”. Why is the venture known as Counter-Strike 2 and what are you doing? @csgo? pic.twitter.com/PU8Op9uGLq
— Gabe Follower 2 (@gabefollower) March 1, 2023
Of course, Valve and developer Hidden Path Entertainment had nothing to say on the matter. However, Richard Lewis, host of the Esports Gospel podcast, claims that insiders with data of the event have instructed him {that a} new Counter-Strike sport is within the works and “virtually prepared” to be launched between now and the primary a part of the beta. Version. April. Valve has allegedly lately flown a “secret staff” {of professional} avid gamers to Seattle to check an early construct.
The sport has been sitting on the event desk for a very long time, which is why we’ve not seen a lot motion from the CS:GO enlargement. According to the leaker, Valve is placing GO on the sidelines whereas they give attention to ending the brand new sport.
“The precedence is to get it on the market after which polish it, repair all of the bugs, and convey it as much as the extent that folks count on from CS,” the insider mentioned. Don’t you want Valve’s marketing strategy of getting it out first after which fixing it?
The leaker confirmed that the upcoming sport options an improved matchmaking system and runs on quicker 128-tick servers. However, they did not say if it will be a standalone sequel or a direct port of Source 2. Either method, the sport ought to enhance when it comes to optimization and graphics in comparison with CS:GO, though the 2014 sport engine is barely barely newer.
One burning query concerning the launch of the brand new Counter-Strike is what occurs to the outdated model? With the variety of folks enjoying CS:GO nonetheless excessive, and with the extremely aggressive esports component in thoughts, shifting to a model new model might be tough. Lewis famous that, traditionally, Valve has gone two methods on this regard.
One is to run each variations side-by-side for some time like the unique Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike, primarily letting the sport resolve for the participant. The second possibility is to take the Dota 2 strategy when the builders port Dota 2 to Source 2, letting them run side-by-side earlier than lastly merging gamers into the brand new model.
Now it is obligatory, “Don’t overlook to carry salt.” Valve and Hidden Path are radio silent. Neither has formally introduced something, and except you are the one conducting the interview, you by no means know the way dependable the nameless interview is. We’ll have to attend and see, nevertheless, as a beta is claimed to be rolling out in just some weeks.
