How to Download Counter-Strike 2 to Play Now
Valve has been hinting at Counter-Strike 2’s release for the past few months, leaving the FPS community anxious for answers. After some teasers on social media, Valve officially dropped Counter-Strike 2 earlier today. Here’s how to start playing CS2 yourself.
Where to Download Counter-Strike 2
First things first, Counter-Strike 2 is only available on Steam. Like all of the Counter-Strike games before it, CS2 is only playable on the PC.
Right now, you can download Counter-Strike 2 on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive store page. This is because its own page is still being updated.
How Much is Counter-Strike 2?
CS2 is completely free to download. There will be in-game purchases available if you want to buy cases in the hopes of getting rare skins and more, however. In the first hour that CS2 was available, Valve made over $40 million in case purchases.
You can also pay for the Prime Status upgrade, which gives you access to prime matchmaking. This ensures that you’ll run into fewer hackers and cheaters while playing Counter-Strike 2.
How to Download Counter-Strike 2
If you already have CS:GO on your PC, you should see Counter-Strike 2 in your Steam inventory. CS:GO will have been essentially replaced. If this is true for you, simply update the game and the Source 2 upgrades will be automatically installed onto your PC.
If you don’t already have CS:GO, you will have to download the game from Steam by pressing “Install.” Once it’s downloaded on Steam, open it and click “Play.” You can now play Counter-Strike 2!
CS2 Requirements
Before downloading, make sure you meet the minimum requirements. Your PC should have these minimum specs:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-6300
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7850
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 50GB available space
Olivia is a long-time esports journalist and editor who covers just about every game but has a deep love for the FGC. Her goal is to find community-driven stories that bring a new perspective to the esports scene. In the past, she has worked for Team Liquid, Rogue, Inven Global, Dot Esports, Upcomer, and more. Outside of esports, Olivia enjoys Kirby, Pokemon TCG, Fallout, and writing science fiction. She can be found trying out new foods, traveling, or hanging out with her two orange cats. Fun fact: Olivia can do some video game and cartoon impressions!