CS2 Open Beta? Update Adds Inferno and New MM System
After an uncharacteristically long period of no updates in the CS2 Limited Test, we finally see another major update dropping for the game. In what is perhaps the most exciting and game-changing update since the Limited Test first dropped, we’re seeing Inferno being added to the map pool, as well as the introduction of a brand new matchmaking system. Oh, and CS2 is now essentially in open beta.
In this article, we’ll go over the most important aspects of the latest CS2 Update.
See: Inferno in CS2 in 25+ Gorgeous Images
Inferno in CS2
This latest update brings the final map that’s part of the current competitive pool to CS2: Inferno. Everyone’s favorite BO3 decider map has now made it to the game, and given the fact that it’s an overhaul map it has gotten some very drastic changes to the way it looks.
If you’re not intimately familiar with Inferno, you might not even recognize it at first sight since it really has undergone some drastic changes. Below, for example, is banana. Did you recognize that?
Open Beta
The Limited Test has always been just that: a Limited Test. Very limited. Starting from today, Valve will add as many players as possible to the Limited Test.
How to get into the CS2 Limited Test
You need a couple of things:
- CS:GO Prime Status
- An active Competitive Skill Group
- You need to have played the majority of your competitive matches in one of the regions where the Limited Test is available
This means that the Limited Test will be available for the vast majority of players, making it effectively an open beta.
NOTE
If you meet the requirements and don’t have the CS2 invite, try to verify the integrity of your game files. To do this, go to your Steam Library -> Right Click ‘Counter-Strike: Global Offensive‘ -> Navigate to ‘Installed Files‘ -> Click ‘Verify integrity of game files‘.
Changes to Matchmaking
Premier Mode
CS2 will introduce Premier Matchmaking. This features a pick-ban system of all the current active duty maps. The outcome of your matches will drive a new precise rating, which is based on points rather than on a ranking symbol. This points rating will give you the chance to climb seasonal leaderboards and will allow you to compare your points against your friends, region, and the entire world.
Map-Specific Ranks
Players who don’t feel ready for Premier (which can always serve you a map that you aren’t familiar with) can still play regular competitive and pick which map they want to play on. The kicker here is that you now have a map-specific rank, so it’s entirely possible that you’re Silver 4 on Inferno and Global Elite on Vertigo, for example.
Shorter Matches
Competitive, Premier, and Pro CS2 matches will now last for a maximum of 24 rounds, with a 6 round maximum overtime enabled in case of a tie. This means that the first team to reach 13 rounds wins the match. This will undoubtedly shake the meta up quite a bit, so we might see some drastic balancing changes coming in the next couple of months.
There are some exciting times ahead for Counter-Strike, this much is certain.
Watch: Counter-Strike 2: Beyond Global
Full Patch Notes
[ PREMIER ]
- Added Premier mode
- Added a visible CS Rating and CS2 Leaderboards. For more information visit the CS2 Leaderboard FAQ
- Added CSTV for spectating Premier matches
[ SOUND ]
- Fixed a case where grenade throw sounds would play twice
- Added music preview button to music volume sliders
- Various adjustments to sound effects
[ WORKSHOP TOOLS ]
- Added Paint Kit enhancements to CS2 Item Editor. Paint Kit finishes can now support:
- Enabling custom normal maps and AO for all styles
- Optional pearlescent mask
- Optional standard PBR roughness texture
- Custom Paint-By-Numbers masks (enabling Paint-By-Number masks for Spray-Paint style)
[ MAPS ]
- Added Inferno to all available game modes
- Various bug fixes and tweaks for all shipped maps
[ MISC ]
- Fixed a bug with hostage rescue prediction
- Enabled first-person shadow for carried hostages
- Fixed water effects showing in the wrong place when a bullet hit the water after penetration
- Various fixes for weapon finishes
- Replaced “Secondary Fire Hold” setting with “Zoom Button Hold”
- Fixed “Disable all voice comms” button in scoreboard
- “Temporarily Disable Incoming Chat” now mutes voice chat
- Various CS:GO settings will be imported when launching the CS2 Limited Test
- Fixed a case of inconsistent crouching with Duck Mode: Toggle enabled
- Updated the invulnerability visual effect
- Adjusted ‘sv_infinite_ammo 2’ grenade behavior to match CS:GO
- Desert Eagle third-person muzzle flash smoke now dissipates faster
- Continued iterating on smoke shape
- Adjusted Competitive mode match length to 12-round halves
[ CS:GO ]
- Recent ranked matches in “Your Matches” menu will now show Competitive, Wingman, and Premier matches
[ GAME AUTHENTICATION CODES ]
- Access to match history granted to third-party websites will now cover Competitive, Wingman, and Premier matches
- GetNextMatchSharingCode API used by third-party websites must now supply a match sharing code that is no more than 1 month old to obtain the next match sharing code.
