Is Counter-Strike 2 Free on Steam?

Counter-Strike 2 was officially revealed by Valve as a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO). Players can play the game for free whether they are existing CS:GO players or want to try out Counter-Strike 2 for the first time. Keep reading to find out more about how Valve plans to monetize the upcoming game.

Counter-Strike 2 will be free-to-play on Steam

Counter-Strike 2 will be a free-to-play title just like CS:GO and monetized via cosmetics. Valve was one of the first publishers to adopt microtransactions and it allows players to trade their skins for Steam balance. 

Some skins can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and despite the cosmetics being sold in a player-driven economy, Valve still makes a profit from the trades via the Steam marketplace. There are no pay-to-win mechanics in Counter-Strike 2 and you will be able to experience the multiplayer gameplay for free.

Valve has also confirmed that its Prime Status Upgrade from CS:GO will also be available in Counter-Strike 2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 players with Prime Status are matched with other Prime Status players and are eligible to receive Prime-exclusive souvenir items, item drops, and weapon cases.

You can purchase Prime Status for $14.99 USD and you need to have a valid phone number linked to your Steam account. Many prefer purchasing Prime Status as it helps keep out a substantial amount of cheaters.

While the idea of avoiding cheaters sounds exciting, Prime is meant to be a deterrent instead of a fool-proof solution. But it does improve the standard of matches. Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) is also getting an upgrade in Counter-Strike 2 with live bans being introduced, and it should help curb cheaters as well.

Counter-Strike 2 release date

Valve has confirmed that Counter-Strike 2’s release window is “Summer 2023” which is from June to August according to game development terms. The earliest we can expect the game is on 1st June and it should release by 31st August unless any unprecedented delays occur.

If you want to try the game on any of the compatible platforms, you can check out our guide on how to play Counter-Strike 2’s Limited Beta Test. You can also check out our guide that discusses Counter-Strike 2’s console release.