Valve announced the upcoming launch of Counter-Strike 2, a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The limited test begins today for select players, so those looking to get into the action might be curious about the Counter-Strike 2 system requirements, and we’ve got what you need to know.
Historically, part of Counter-Strike’s appeal has been its minimal system requirements. You don’t need an incredible computer to run the game at maximum frames, and it’s been that way for decades. Luckily, Counter-Strike 2 continues the tradition — and despite its improved graphics and lighting in the Source 2 engine, you’ll be pleased to know you don’t need to drop $2,000 on a gaming rig to run this game.
Counter-Strike 2 System Requirements
While there are no official system requirements for Counter-Strike 2, we do know Valve has built the game on the new Source 2 engine. Games built on Source 2 include Dota 2 and Half-Life: Alyx, so the system requirements are likely similar.
Minimum System Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i5 7500 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- GPU: GTX 1060 6GB / RX 580 8GB
- RAM: 12GB DDR4
Recommended System Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i7 9700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- GPU: RTX 2070 / AMD RX 5700 XT
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
The system requirements posted above are estimated based on other games built on the Source 2 engine. System requirements should be similar, but we’ll update this section if and when we get more information from Valve.
The Source 2 engine uses Vulkan, a graphics API successor to OpenGL that is multi-threading friendly. CS:GO, on the other hand, used a now outdated DirectX9, so Counter-Strike should run smoother on modern processors and hardware.
You can find out how to get access to the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test if you’re interested. Counter-Strike 2 is slated for a Summer 2023 release, with more information to come as the ongoing Limited Test continues. In the meantime, stay with Gamer Digest for updates and gaming news.
