win.gg
Win.gg Counter-Strike CS2 early access: Eligibility criteria and how to get in

CS2 early access: Eligibility criteria and how to get in

Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti Published 01/09/2023
Counter-Strike 2 main menu

Still don’t have Counter-Strike 2 access? That might change today, at least if you check basic eligibility criteria. 

Valve is eventually rolling out CS2 for all. While it was initially highly exclusive, more players are now getting their hands on the hotly anticipated Source 2 upgrade. Finally, the biggest CS2 access wave hit yesterday, handing out access to those who didn’t check the previous boxes. 

The new criteria for CS2 access is lax, and chances are your Steam account already has the update ready. 

How to get CS2 access?

Inferno CS2

It’s now much simpler and easier to get CS2 early access. In the recent release notes, Valve has revealed the criteria for CS2, and most old-timers would be eligible.

In order to get CS2 access in September:

That’s it. That’s all you need to be eligible for CS2. Most old players already have Prime status, but serious competitors may not have their rank active. It’s common for most competitive players to play Faceit instead of MM, which leads to rank decaying and disappearing. 

However, there’s still time. Players may still log back into their Steam accounts and start grinding MM to unlock rank. Who knows, Valve may continue to roll out access throughout the month or start another wave before the official release, which is currently rumored to be in the latter half of September 2023.

Those who recently got their hands on CS2 will be able to test out the newly overhauled Inferno, MR12 system, and leaderboard. Eventually, the new map-based ranking system will also enter the fray, adding a new twist to the already cut-throat MM mode in CS2. 

Fariha Bhatti Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile
Read Also
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Preview: Teams, Format, Schedule Counter-Strike
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Preview: Teams, Format, Schedule Owen Harsono Only less than a week after ESL Pro League Season 23, we already have another top-tier Counter-Strike 2 event to look forward to, as BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 kicks off on March 18. Here is everything you need to know about the BLAST Open Rotterdam teams, format, schedule, and prize pool. 16 of the best Counter-Strike teams in the world will compete for the BLAST Open Rotterdam title. See all ...
Caster Claims s1mple Earns $120K Monthly Salary Under BC.Game Counter-Strike
Caster Claims s1mple Earns $120K Monthly Salary Under BC.Game Owen Harsono Eastern European caster Konstantin "Leniniw" Sivko has claimed that Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev asked for a $120,000 monthly salary while playing under BC.Game. During the same discussion, Leniniw also shared what he described as a rough estimate of salaries across some of the highest-profile Counter-Strike 2 players. According to Leniniw, his sources suggested that s1mple reportedly negotiated one of the largest salaries in competitive Counter-Strike when joining BC.Game’s CS2 roster. “When ...
NAVI vs Aurora: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions and Odds Esports Betting
NAVI vs Aurora: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions and Odds Owen Harsono NAVI take on Aurora in the grand final of ESL Pro League Season 23. Both teams are looking to bag their first trophy of the 2026 season. Here are our ESL Pro League S23 NAVI vs Aurora predictions. Tournament: ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage: Grand Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best of 5 Betting tip: Of the four most recent head-to-head meetings between these two teams, NAVI have won ...
Aurora vs Astralis: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions Esports Betting
Aurora vs Astralis: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions Owen Harsono Astralis and Aurora face off in the ESL Pro League Season 23 semi final, with both teams looking for their first grand final appearance in 2026. Here are our ESL Pro League S23 Astralis vs Aurora predictions. Tournament: ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage: Semi Finals Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: Astralis took down tournament favorites Team Spirit with a dominant 2-0 victory. They should not ...
NAVI vs FUT Esports: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions Esports Betting
NAVI vs FUT Esports: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions Owen Harsono NAVI are set to take on their former academy team, FUT Esports, in ESL Pro League Season 23 for the first spot in the grand final. Both teams are in great shape, and we’re in for a great match. Here are our ESL Pro League S23 NAVI vs FUT Esports predictions. Tournament: ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage: Semi Finals Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: FUT ...
Best CS2 Teams in 2026 Counter-Strike
Best CS2 Teams in 2026 Owen Harsono The professional Counter-Strike 2 scene has not been as entertaining as it is now for years. We have a bunch of different teams and personalities all competing to be the best, and the gap between the top dogs and the underdogs has never been thinner. Here are the best CS2 teams in the world right now. It’s hard to leave out the most entertaining team in the world from a ...
Best CS2 Players in 2026: Top 10 Pros Ranked Counter-Strike
Best CS2 Players in 2026: Top 10 Pros Ranked Owen Harsono The professional Counter-Strike 2 scene in 2026 is as exciting as ever. We’re entering an era of firepower, where superstars are consistently delivering star-level performances as mechanical skills are at an all-time high. Here are the top 10 CS2 players in 2026. Below, we’ve ranked the 10 best players in Counter-Strike 2 this year. Our ranking is based on individual skill, firepower, and overall contribution to their teams. Rating 3.0 ...