On what date did Counter-Strike 2 officially release?

Counter-Strike 2 officially released on September 27, 2023.

Valve launched Counter-Strike 2 as a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It uses the Source 2 engine and introduced technical changes including volumetric smoke, updated lighting, improved rendering, and redesigned versions of classic maps.

The release followed a limited test that began in March 2023. Valve invited selected Global Offensive players to try the new version before launch, making the test an important part of the transition. Counter-Strike 2 replaced Global Offensive on Steam rather than launching as a completely separate paid sequel.

The title is sometimes described as a conventional sequel, but its relationship with Global Offensive is closer to a major technical replacement. Inventory items carried over, while some older features and maps changed or disappeared during the transition. The September 27 date marks the public release, not the start of the limited test.