Is Counter-Strike 2 free to play?
Players have gotten used to CS:GO being free-to-play - but is Counter-Strike 2 free-to-play?
This is part of the ‘Counter-Strike’ directory
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CS:GO is one of the most popular first-person shooters out there, and one of the few that's free to play - so it goes without saying that players are wondering if Counter-Strike 2 will be free to play too.
While CS:GO used to be a paid affair, it eventually went the way of free-to-play back in 2018 with the Danger Zone update. Now, the game is more popular than ever, with Counter-Strike 2 finally arriving in late September 2023.
Of course, this begs the question of whether CS2 is still free to play, just like CS:GO before it. After all, the gaming landscape is now full of popular free-to-play games, including Destiny 2, Fortnite, Warzone, and Overwatch 2 - itself a sequel that erased its predecessor from the digital storefront like Counter-Strike 2 has.
We've got everything you need to know about whether Counter-Strike 2 is free to play below, so make sure to continue reading for the latest details.
Is Counter-Strike 2 free to play?
Counter-Strike 2 is confirmed to be free-to-play, with the game's official website previously stating that it "arrives this summer as a free upgrade to CS:GO."
While Global Offensive used to be a paid game, it went free-to-play years ago, and that same pricing applies to Counter-Strike 2, too.
Previously, Counter-Strike 2 was only available as a Limited Test, but only certain players were invited by Valve, and it was a rather exclusive club. At this time, it was the only way that you could play Counter-Strike 2. Thankfully, it's now available for everyone to enjoy.
CS:GO did have a 'paid' option of sorts in the form of Prime - which gave players access to exclusive matchmaking channels that were less likely to be populated with cheaters and griefers.
Prime continues in CS2 for anyone who purchased CS:GO when it was a premium game, or for those who want to buy the Prime status as a one-time payment.
So, that's everything you need to know about the free-to-play status of Counter-Strike 2, giving you all of the latest details from Valve surrounding the upcoming game.
About The Author
Joshua Boyles
Joshua is the Guides Editor at GGRecon. After graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Broadcast Journalism, he previously wrote for publications such as FragHero and GameByte. You can often find him diving deep into fantasy RPGs such as Skyrim and The Witcher, or tearing it up in Call of Duty and Battlefield. He's also often spotted hiking in the wilderness, usually blasting Arctic Monkeys.
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This is part of the ‘Counter-Strike’ directory
Directory contents
-
Best Graphics Settings
-
Pro Crosshair Codes
-
Best Launch Options
-
Bob Settings
-
Change Brightness
-
Jumpthrow Bind
-
Left-Hand View
-
Stretched-Res
-
Hide UI
-
VALORANT Sensitivity
-
Show FPS
-
Crosshair Customisation
