win.gg
Win.gg Counter-Strike What do pro players think about CS2? karrigan, NertZ, and more

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

Author Icon
William Davis Published 06/06/2023
Counter-Strike 2 smokes

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.

William Davis
About William Davis

View full profile
Read Also
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons at BLAST Open Fall 2026: best predictions and picks Counter-Strike
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons at BLAST Open Fall 2026: best predictions and picks Owen Harsono We’re in for a treat, as the BLAST Open Fall semi-final will feature a matchup between Team Spirit and Team Falcons, with the winner booking a spot in the grand final. It’s a battle between the world number one and number two, so this is a match you definitely don’t want to miss. Here are our BLAST Open Fall Team Spirit vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: BLAST Open Fall 2026 ...
Is CS2 Dying in 2026? Counter-Strike
Is CS2 Dying in 2026? Owen Harsono Counter-Strike is one of the longest-standing esports franchises, having built a loyal fanbase over the course of two decades. However, if you’ve browsed through social media platforms across the past few months, you might have seen people claiming that the game is dying or on a steady decline. Below we’ll take a look at why people are talking about this and answer the question of “is CS2 really dying?” One ...
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027 News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027 Ben Boland The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
CS2 at the EWC 2026 Preview: Odds, Details, Predictions and More Counter-Strike
CS2 at the EWC 2026 Preview: Odds, Details, Predictions and More Owen Harsono Top-tier Counter-Strike action returns at the Esports World Cup, as 32 of the best teams will take the trip to Paris to compete for millions of dollars. If you’re looking to watch the event, here’s everything you need to know and which teams to keep an eye on. The Esports World Cup is one of the largest CS2 events if we’re looking at prize pools, as $2,000,000 will be distributed ...
Opinion: Is Esports Tracing the Same Evolutionary Path As Traditional Sports? News
Opinion: Is Esports Tracing the Same Evolutionary Path As Traditional Sports? Cecilia Ciocchetti What happens when an industry compresses centuries of sporting evolution into less than a decade or two? Communities become global audiences overnight, rivalries spread through social media within minutes, and tournaments turn into entertainment products faster than ever before. And so what took traditional sports centuries to build has taken esports a fraction of that. From local communities to sold out arenas, and from informal matches to Olympic-style events, the ...
BLAST Bounty 2026 semi-final predictions: who’s making it to the grand final? Counter-Strike
BLAST Bounty 2026 semi-final predictions: who’s making it to the grand final? Owen Harsono The top four teams we’re seeing at the BLAST Bounty 2026 semi-finals are far from what anyone would expect before the tournament began, but here we are. We’re only three matches from crowning a winner, so let’s take a look at the best BLAST Bounty semi-final predictions for both upcoming matchups. Starting the semi-finals off is a banger of a series between FaZe Clan and Team Spirit, which is one ...