Reducing corners: It is arduous to say what Valve is healthier recognized for — creating the Half-Life franchise or by no means finishing it. As chances are you’ll recall, Half-Life 2: Episode Two ended on a significant cliffhanger that will have been resolved in Episode Three had Valve not inexplicably deserted it.
Valve’s dwell service sport Counter-Strike: International Offensive, generally referred to as CS:GO is in an identical boat. The multiplayer FPS doesn’t require an finish. In any case, it does not actually have a narrative. Nevertheless, it’s a fashionable aggressive shooter that also maintains a considerable variety of customers. Now it seems that perhaps the sport is getting a sequel, or at least, an enormous improve.
The rumors began simmering when the official CS:GO Twitter account modified its banner picture a couple of week in the past. It led to gentle hypothesis on Reddit that Valve was getting ready to rebrand the sport or port it to the Supply 2 engine or each. Then once more, Twitter account adjustments are a weak indication that something is certainly taking place, so the bluster subsided rapidly.
Then on March 1, information miners trying on the latest Nvidia drivers seen the point out of two new recordsdata — csgos2.exe and cs2.exe (probably placeholders). They had been listed as a part of a brand new sport profile labeled “Counter-strike 2.” The invention whipped up the rumor mill once more, with prospects of a sequel sport or, extra possible, a port of the unique sport to Supply 2, as indicated by the csgos2.exe file title.
One thing bizarre simply occurred. Newest NVIDIA drivers launched assist for unknown app executables known as “csgos2.exe” and “cs2.exe”. Why venture is named Counter-Strike 2 and what are you cooking @csgo? https://t.co/U9YKlAjwgy pic.twitter.com/PU8Op9uGLq
— Gabe Follower 2 (@gabefollower) March 1, 2023
After all, Valve and developer Hidden Path Leisure had nothing to say on the matter. Nevertheless, the host of The Esports Gospel podcast, Richard Lewis, claims insiders with information of the event advised him {that a} new Counter-Strike sport is within the works and is “nearly prepared” for a beta launch between now and the primary a part of April. Allegedly, Valve already had a “secret group” of professional gamers flown to Seattle to check an early model just lately.
The sport has been on the event desk for fairly some time, which is why we now have not seen a lot motion with CS:GO growth. In accordance with the leakers, Valve put GO on the again burner whereas specializing in getting the newer title finished.
“The large precedence is getting this out after which sharpening it, fixing any bugs, and bringing it as much as the extent individuals count on from CS,” the insiders stated. Do not you simply love Valve’s marketing strategy of get it out first then repair it?
The leakers confirmed that the upcoming title has an improved matchmaking system and runs on quicker 128-tick servers. Nevertheless, they didn’t say whether or not it will be a standalone sequel or a straight port to Supply 2. Both method, the sport ought to have improved optimization and graphics in comparison with CS:GO, regardless of the 2014 sport engine solely being barely newer.
One urgent query relating to releasing a brand new Counter-Strike is what is going to occur to the older model? With the nonetheless robust numbers enjoying CS:GO and the aggressive esport aspect to contemplate, shifting to a radically newer model may very well be tough. Lewis factors out that traditionally, Valve has taken two paths on this regard.
One is to function each variations side-by-side for a time because it did with the unique Counter-Strike and CS:GO, basically letting the video games duke it out for gamers. The second choice could be to take the strategy of Dota 2 when devs ported it to Supply 2, letting them run concurrently earlier than lastly merging gamers into the newer model.
Now for the compulsory, “do not forget to take your salt.” Valve and Hidden Path are radio silent. Neither has introduced something formally, and you’ll by no means know the way dependable interviews with nameless sources are except you’re the one doing the interviewing. Nevertheless, we should wait and discover out because the beta is allegedly launching in as little as a number of weeks.