Game guide
Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 is Valve's free tactical 5v5 first-person shooter, the successor to CS:GO rebuilt on the Source 2 engine. Two teams buy weapons each round and fight to plant/defuse a bomb or eliminate the other side.
- Developer
- Valve
- Publisher
- Valve
- Released
- September 27, 2023
- Platforms
- PC (Windows), PC (Linux)
- Price
- Free-to-play
Guides & data
Everything people search about Counter-Strike 2 — each answer verified against primary sources.
Counter-Strike 2 — frequently asked
Is Counter-Strike 2 really free?
Yes. CS2 is free to download and play on Steam. It launched in 2023 as a free upgrade to CS:GO, which was itself free-to-play from 2018 onward.
Is CS2 pay-to-win?
No. Everything you can buy - skins, knives, gloves, stickers - is cosmetic and does not change weapon performance. Success depends on skill, not spending.
Can I play CS2 on PS5, Xbox, or Switch?
No. CS2 is PC-only, running on 64-bit Windows and Linux. There is no console version and Valve has announced no plans for one.
Does CS2 run on Mac?
No. Valve dropped macOS support when CS2 replaced CS:GO in 2023, along with DirectX 9 and 32-bit systems. Mac players would need a Windows/Linux setup.
What is Prime Status?
An optional paid upgrade that unlocks Prime matchmaking, ranked drops, and item drops. It affects your matchmaking pool and rewards, not your in-game power.
Sources
- Steam - Counter-Strike 2
- Wikipedia - Counter-Strike 2
- GameSpot - Valve ends CS2 support for Mac and older systems
- Esports.net - Is Counter-Strike crossplay?
- Hotspawn - Counter-Strike 2 size
- Last verified: July 12, 2026. Sizes and specs can change with patches — tell us if something is out of date.