When was Counter-Strike 2 officially released?

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

Valve launched the game as a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The release moved the series to Valve’s Source 2 engine and replaced Global Offensive on Steam rather than existing as a separate paid sequel.

The launch introduced major technical changes, including responsive smoke grenades, updated lighting, revised maps, and a new sub-tick networking approach. Players who owned Global Offensive received access to Counter-Strike 2 without buying another game.

Some players confuse the release date with the start of the limited test, which began earlier in 2023. The limited test was staged in phases, while September 27 marks the public launch.