What do pro players think about CS2? karrigan, NertZ, and more

CS2 is on its way, but pro players are harshly criticizing everything from its new servers to the headline gameplay change.

Counter-Strike 2 will completely change the game when it releases this summer, and it will bring a lot more than just updated graphics. The switch to Source 2 will include a brand-new “tickless” server system along with gameplay changes to smokes. There will be tons to explore, but not everyone is excited.

At IEM Dallas, WIN.gg sat down with several pro players to learn their thoughts on the limited beta test. We asked pro players the following question. 

If all of the active duty maps were added in tomorrow, do you think Counter-Strike 2 is ready for tournament play?

“No. I don’t think so at all. The servers are all so really bad when I tried it at least. I don’t really like it as much. It has to be fully ready before releasing it, so  I hope they wait more time so it can be ready” said Jakob “Jabbi” Nygaard of Heroic.

“I feel like it’s still 64 tick rate and still a lot of bugs. I was sticking to the walls when I played matchmaking on Dust 2. I think they have a lot to change,” said ENCE rifler Guy “NertZ” Iluz.

“The only thing I would look into is the movement. I mentioned to [Valve] that the movement is just a little sloppy and a little buggy… It’s a skill to know the movement. In my opinion, that’s the only thing they need to look into,” said Finn “karrigan” Andersen.

FaZe Clan’s captain was one of the most positive players on the new game, and that extends to the title’s most dynamic gameplay change.

Pro players divided on new CS2 smokes

The biggest gameplay change coming in CS2 is the interaction between smokes and frag grenades, and pro players are equally divided on this topic.

“I don’t like when you mess with the fundamentals. I’m totally fine with new things and trying to make all weapons viable. But screwing with things like this is just… I don’t see a good way out of it. Everybody brings up the same example every time with the smoke wall on Nuke. You can just throw an HE in it and the wall is gone, and what do you do then?” asked Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen of G2 Esports.

Others remarked on how it will affect other parts of the game, removing emphasis from utility and putting it back on individual skills, a more neutral take. 

“It will be more dynamic for the game. I do think the game will be more aim-heavy now, it brings me 1.6 flashbacks,” said MOUZ’ David “frozen” Čerňanský.

The one major positive voice was karrigan, who stated that he looked forward to messing around with the new mechanics and developing new strategies with it. However, he also noted that it needs adjusting from its current state.

“It’s cool. I think Valve had to do something to the game, it can’t just be upgraded graphics. I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s gonna play out… maybe the HE smoke is going to be less OP, and maybe like only one second before the smoke fades [back in.] Now they’re fading for a long time. I’m just looking forward to playing a little more,” he said.