On the night from August 31 to September 1, Valve delighted Counter-Strike fans with a major update. While CS2 is still only available to a fraction of players, their numbers are gradually expanding, and the release of the update gives hope that a full-scale release is just around the corner. This time the changes affected several aspects of the game.
Inferno update
First of all, Counter-Strike 2 has a new map, namely, Inferno. Even before its release, there were rumors in the community that it would be significantly reworked, and they turned out to be true. Although the style of the map has remained the same, there are quite a few small details that add to the realism and atmosphere of the map. In addition, for some reason the library has changed its destination – now this location is called the wine storage.
New format
Another significant innovation was the changes in the matchmaking system. For several years now, there have been opinions in the community that competitive matches take too long to play and therefore become less interesting to viewers. The developers have been looking for a long time to change the ratio so that teams have enough opportunities to prove themselves, but the game is perceived more dynamic. It seems that Valve has found a solution: now the number of rounds will be reduced from 30 to 24, and a team will have to win 13 rounds to keep the map.
This format, which is called MR12, will be used in both regular and competitive matches. Viewers will also see it at the first majors where CS2 will be used. Interestingly, up to 13 rounds were also played in the long-standing Counter-Strike 1.6 competition in the early two-thousands. CS:GO fans will soon be able to see how well this option works these days.
Matchmaking Updates
The matchmaking system itself has also undergone changes. There is a new Premier Mode, aimed at those players who want an experience as close as possible to a cyber sports competition. The list of maps for each match will be formed by a veto system, as in most major events, and players will be able to increase their level in the regional and world rankings based on the results.
The familiar competitive mode will also remain, but it will be seen more as a training session before Premier Mode. The rank will be calculated separately for each map, which will allow players to practice their skills more effectively and not to face overly difficult opponents on those maps where they feel uncomfortable. Of course, the usual – mode for those who are not interested in competition and rankings increase will not go away.
Another good news is that Valve has significantly expanded the number of players to whom the new version will be available. Invitations have been extended to many Prime holders who spend a lot of time in official competitive matchmaking. Check – maybe the new version is finally available to you.