Is CS2 Free to Play?

Counter-Strike: Offensive Global has been a staple in online gaming for over a decade, but it’s time to close the casket, put two flowers atop it, and press F to pay respects to our beloved game. The king is dead, long live the king! Counter-Strike 2 had just launched without a few hiccups, but the good news is that CS2 is free, and the pricing model has not changed drastically. Let’s delve into CS2’s pricing model, monetization, what’s new, and what we should expect in the coming months.  

Historical Pricing Models of CS2

If we look back at the title’s history, precisely at the release back in sunny August 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive initially went for $14.99 on Steam. It was a huge deal, the first Counter-Strike game in like eight years since the release of Counter-Strike: Source, so the price was more than justified, especially considering how many hours we had spent in the game (550 hours in my profile, and all my CS:GO achievements are gone. Thanks, Valve).

However, the unexpected and quite successful shift to free-to-play occurred in 2018 with the Danger Zone update, in which we had a chance to play CS in a battle-royale setting. This rather bold move from Valve opened up the game to a huge audience of different ages and made the game the number-one played game on Steam. Aside from garnering a new player base and new eyeballs to their esports events, this change eventually sparked a few questions about further pricing models in the series, mainly CS2, when the rumors about its development began to spread. 

Current State of CS2’s Pricing Model

The game is out now, and to everyone’s relief, it is still free to play. However, there are still some important questions we have to walk through. 

Initial download and installation – is it free?

The good news is that CS2 is essentially just a free upgrade from CS:GO. In the beta stages of the game, you could’ve opted in for the CS2 beta test program and downloaded the separate client, then chose which game to launch upon downloading it. You had the option to either play CS:GO or CS2, but now, your only option is Counter-Strike 2, as the Global Offensive is no longer available for players (along with our achievements. Thanks again, Valve). This means that the initial download and installation of CS2 is free. Just go to Steam market, search for Counter-Strike, and you’ll be greeted with a brand-new game, available for instant download. 

In-game purchases and microtransactions

While the CS2 game itself is free, there are tons of options you could spend your hard-earned cash on the rich abundance of in-game cosmetics, including weapon skins, stickers, knives, gloves, agents, and even music packs. Essentially, Valve allows you to stand out from the other players with a unique style, but none of these items will alter or improve your performance. Let’s just say that the skins and various style items are not pay-to-win. You can play just as fine with a default loadout.

As to other in-game purchases, Valve has not provided specific details about other potential microtransactions inside CS2 as of yet. However, given the trend in the gaming industry, it’s reasonable to expect some new forms of monetization shortly. Oh, by the way, the paid statistics subscription from CS:GO called 360 Stats is gone, along with many maps and game modes. Here’s hoping Valve brings back at least something back.

Some of the potential paid features may come in the future.

Is CS2 a Free-to-Play Game?

Is CS2 free? It is free, and it seems like there are no plans on Valve’s part to depart from this model. The game is available to all players as a free upgrade from CS:GO. This move is expected to maintain the player base and ensure a smooth transition to the new title.

Nothing changes in terms of the pricing model.

Potential Costs of Playing CS2

Although since 2018 CS:GO and now CS2 are completely free to download and play, there are a few ways of splurging on some cosmetics and optional premium content. Also, it is most likely that CS2 will follow suit and offer Viewer Passes and Operation Passes. Viewer passes are reserved for annual Major tournaments, and Operation passes are introduced with skin case drops. We sure hope that Valve brings these back to CS2. Until Valve releases more information, however, this is all speculative.

Operation Passes should make a comeback.

Is the CS2 Limited Test Free?

In addition to the full game, the limited testing phase of CS2 is also free of charge. A select group of players has been granted early access to test the game and provide feedback. These players were chosen randomly and notified through their CS:GO client. However, all of these players had to fit certain requirements, including active participation in competitive games. Just like the full game, this testing phase does not require any payment.

Only the chosen ones were invited.

Wrapping Up!

In conclusion, if you’re worried either “Will CS2 be free?”, you can take a chill pill and relax. The good news is that Counter Strike 2 is free. Valve is not that greedy to make the beloved by many games have a price tag. CS2 is free for all, and let’s just hope that it won’t be left the way it is now, as some of our favorite maps and game modes are missing. We can also expect paid Operation Passes and Viewer Passes, but these have been present since the CS:GO days. 

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