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Counter-Strike 2 sees the return of community maps

By - | Views: 33,234

Valve continue expanding Counter-Strike 2 now its released, and the latest update overhauls the community map system along with enabling it again in the Steam Workshop. We've also seen quite a big drop in players overall.


Pictured - Brewery map from Steam Workshop

From the changelog:

  • Enabled uploading CS2 maps to the workshop.
  • Community Servers can host workshop maps.
  • Added paint metalness and roughness by color features to Solid Color, Hydrographic, and Spray-Paint finishes in the Item Editor.
  • Added option to toggle "Automatic PBR Color Correction" to all sticker types in Item Editor.
  • Various Item Editor help system updates including "mat_fullbright 10" to test PBR.
  • Various updates to workshop tools.

If you want to try a custom map offline you can just find one in the Steam Workshop, subscribe to it and then head directly into the game in the Play menu.

Nice to see this back as custom maps were really popular for CS:GO. Hopefully we will see other parts cut from CS:GO return to CS 2 soon. Going by what Valve said in an interview with PC Gamer modes like Arms Race and other popular stuff will return at some point as Valve say they haven't been forgotten.

The release of CS 2 also caused quite a dip in the player-count. Steam Charts reports a 18.85% drop in the average player count for October, the biggest drop on record for it. We're still talking averages of nearly 800,000 though so it's not like CS 2 is in trouble with it seeing peak player counts regularly of over 1 million.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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9 comments

Linux_Rocks Nov 3, 2023
The free Counter-Strike 2 soundtrack also dropped recently for anyone who's interested.
Now that macOS is not supported by CS2 anymore, maybe that plays a part in player count considerably. Only Linux and Windows are supported now.
Bogomips Nov 3, 2023
For me the audio did the trick, I cannot accurately localize people anymore so I'm just waiting for improvement.

The workshop part does not display maps I'm subscribed to either.
Capra Nov 3, 2023
Unfortunately it has not been implemented properly. To access workshop maps the -insecure launch option is needed,, but you lose access to official matchmaking
ElectricPrism Nov 4, 2023
I have to admit I stopped playing, I nearly exclusively play deathmatch and workshop maps got bored of being so limited. de_dust2 was nice, but it gets old.

Also I am not happy, CS:S wont launch the community browser on linux -- it has some logic loop where it complains about requiring beta even though beta is on. So it's not like I even have that fallback.

I really hope CS2 surf_ becomes a decent thing, I did not like csgo surfing very much, but I fear the glory days may be over in that aspect. I hope I'm proven wrong.

Also, workshop maps and custom servers are the most important things ever. I hope they get it fixed soon.
1xok Nov 4, 2023
Quoting: Perkeleen_VittupääNow that macOS is not supported by CS2 anymore, maybe that plays a part in player count considerably. Only Linux and Windows are supported now.
Could be a network effect. Since our MacOS friend can't play, we've been playing something else. Something like that. However, such declines are quite normal for CS. It was last seen in July.
Nod Nov 4, 2023
I would love to see Danger Zone return but I don't think it will. Danger Zone was a unique take on the Battle Royal formula and unappreciated. The ExoJump Boots added a Tribes like third dimension which was really fun.
aparthy Nov 4, 2023
Tried to play surf maps after this update without success. I tried a couple of low ping populated servers and one time I got asked to dl a map from workshop but after accepting I still didn't get into the sever. I did not investigate further so all I can say is for now I feel the experience is still lacking


Last edited by aparthy on 6 November 2023 at 6:12 pm UTC
ElectricPrism Nov 5, 2023
Quoting: aparthyTried to play surf maps after this update without success. I tried a couple of low ping populated servers and one time I got asked to dl a map from workshop but after accepting I still didn't get into the sever. I did not investigate further so all i can say is for now I feel the experience is still lacking

Thanks, yeah IIRC this may be because the servers are still hosting for CS:GO only.

I spent like 4 days trying to navigate map porting but the Workshop Editor in the launch options only runs on Windows.

Also last I checked there were some serious hoops to jump through to host a dedicated server, you have to install a csgo server and then update it, and I don't host a server so I didn't go ahead.

Using the console `%command% -console` launch option it's possible to manually load a map `map surf_mymap` and then there is a series of surf commands so you can surf offline temporarily to test it out.

Edit: In case anyone wants to try here are my notes on what commands may be relevant.

 
CS:2 SURF SERVER
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1787323188

sv_cheats 1; sv_falldamage_scale 0; sv_party_mode 1; mp_freezetime 2; mp_round_restart_delay 2.5; ragdoll_gravity_scale 0.5; sv_accelerate 10; sv_airaccelerate 1400; sv_gravity 800.0; sv_maxspeed 620.0; sv_maxvelocity 7200.0; sv_enablebunnyhopping 1; sv_autobunnyhopping 1; sv_staminamax 0; sv_staminajumpcost 0; sv_staminalandcost 0; sv_staminarecoveryrate 0; sv_accelerate_use_weapon_speed 0; weapon_accuracy_nospread 1; mp_solid_teammates 0; mp_autoteambalance 1; mp_respawn_on_death_ct 1; mp_respawn_on_death_t 1; mp_roundtime 99999; mp_startmoney 99999; mp_buytime 99999; mp_spawnprotectiontime 0; mp_respawn_immunitytime 0; mp_restartgame 1;

map cs_surf_map;
give weapon_awp;


weapon_recoil_scale 1;

https://github.com/sarim-hk/cs2-map-importer



Last edited by ElectricPrism on 5 November 2023 at 4:32 am UTC
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