Valve adds iconic Wingman game mode to CS2 beta

Fariha Bhatti Published 18/07/2023

The latest Counter-Strike 2 release notes bear glad tidings for casual players as iconic 2v2 Wingman mode returns. 

Counter-Strike is highly competitive, but sometimes you don’t feel like playing in a crowded server. For those who like serious practice, some quiet, and competitive flair all in one, Valve released Wingman in 2017. But, when CS2 was announced, players weren’t sure if the iconic game mode would make the cut. 

It seems Valve is well aware of what precisely the fans want. In July release notes, the developer confirmed that Wingman is now officially available in CS2 beta. 

How to play Wingman in CS2

Wingman is now available to play in CS2. In order to play the mode, find it in the dropdown menu and invite your teammate.

The maps are smaller in this mode to accommodate a total of four players. To achieve that, one site has been removed, and walls are enclosed to make the space compact. The 2v2 game starts on maps with one bomb site, a best-of-16 game format, and a special Wingman skill group. The round timer is 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Wingman has been in CSGO since 2017 and will now be playable in CS2 as well, which is great news for casual players. Even competitive players sometimes like to squeeze in a quick game while they wait for the rest of their teammates. Wingman maintains a perfect balance between competitive and casual, making it a go-to mode for new and old players alike. 

For now, only playtesters who have CS2 beta access can play the iconic mode. But it won’t be long until Wingman is available for all. The CS2 release date is likely soon, considering the teasers scattered across the new CS2 maps. 

Besides Wingman, the latest release notes also add Overpass to the competitive queue and Vertigo to casual and deathmatch mode. 

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

Counter-Strike

IEM Cologne Major Stage 3 preview: who’s making it to the playoffs? Owen Harsono The IEM Cologne Major is the biggest tournament of the year, and after two stages of play, it’s finally time to unleash the big boys. Stage 3 will feature the 16 best teams in the world, but only eight can advance to the Playoffs and play on the big stage. Here’s our IEM Cologne Major Stage 3 preview. Before we got to Stage 3, a lot of things happened in ...

Counter-Strike

IEM Cologne Major 2026 CS2 Stage 3 Pick’Em Predictions Owen Harsono It’s that time of the year again, as the next Counter-Strike 2 Major is right around the corner. The IEM Cologne 2026 Major is set to start on June 2, meaning you still have some time to lock in your Pick’Em predictions. The Pick’Em Challenge is one of the most exciting parts of the CS2 Majors, as it allows you to test your knowledge and predict which teams make it ...

Counter-Strike

Team Spirit concede just 10 rounds in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major Owen Harsono It was pretty weird seeing Team Spirit having to start the IEM Cologne Major from Stage 2, but they quickly proved why that was a mistake. With donk shooting on all fronts, the Eastern Europeans speed ran the competition to book their spot in Stage 3. With how they’ve been playing, it’s hard not to wonder whether they can actually win the entire thing. These boys can sometimes be known ...

Counter-Strike

BIG pull off 0-12 comeback to stay alive – IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 recap Owen Harsono We’ve just witnessed arguably the worst choke in Counter-Strike Major history, and we’re only on the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major. If you didn’t tune into the Stage 1 matches, here’s what you need to know heading into Stage 2. Many fans tend to underestimate Stage 1 teams for fair reasons, but some survivors in this tournament look extremely promising. Two Eastern European teams, BetBoom Team and B8, ...

Counter-Strike

Who will win the IEM Cologne Major 2026? Owen Harsono If you’re looking to play it safe and back one team at the Counter-Strike 2 IEM Cologne 2026 Major, traders prediction markets platforms have a clear frontrunner – it’s Team Vitality. But if it’s not meant to be, there are a few other candidates that could lift the trophy. Here’s what traders on Polymarket and Kalshi think. If you haven’t been watching CS2 this year and are only jumping on ...

Counter-Strike

The 10 best CS2 players who have never won a Major Owen Harsono In Counter-Strike, winning a Major immediately puts you into legend status. It’s an achievement that proves you won the game’s biggest trophy. However, there have been some really good players that could never get their hands on the biggest trophy that Counter-Strike esports has to offer. Here is WIN.gg's list of best CS2 players who have never won a Major. ScreaM is one of Counter-Strike's most famous players for one ...

Counter-Strike

IEM Cologne Major 2026: All the teams, favorites, and outright betting odds Owen Harsono Mark your calendars, as the IEM Cologne Major kicks off on June 2, 2026. We’re going to see the best teams in the world compete, but which ones are actually favored to take the title? This will be the first time in 10 years that IEM Cologne will return as a Counter-Strike Major, so the stakes this year are much higher than they’ve been in a decade. In this guide, ...