Counter-Strike 2 has not been spared from the discourse about “dying” that surrounds multiplayer and live service games in recent years. Counter-Strike as a series has been around for decades, and the state of the game has been a constant discussion point since.
But is Counter-Strike 2 dying? In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the CS2 player count and gauge how things are going. Read on to learn all you need to know.
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Why Are People Saying that CS2 is Dying?
There are a number of issues that the wider Counter-Strikes 2 player base has with the state of the game.
One of these issues has been Valve Anti-Cheat, the anti-cheat program that’s supposed to keep cheaters and hackers at bay. Many players claim that VAC hardly keeps cheaters out and that they are constantly running into cheaters frequently.
Other issues plaguing the game include client performance, a lack of new content (seasonal operations), more frequent crashes, subtick issues, and various bugs.
Is Counter-Strike 2 Dying? (The Truth)
Despite the issues facing Counter-Strike 2 currently, the game is not dying. While the player numbers for CS2 have always fluctuated, there’s been no consistent dropoff. The peak player and average player numbers as of December 2024 are lower now than they were in April or May, but higher than they were in January or February.
These numbers will typically spike after a large update, whether that be a change to the map pool or a return of the Major pass. While these larger updates feel more sparse when compared to other popular multiplayer titles, players are still logging back in to play. Valve is also still (slowly) releasing updates regarding some of the major issues.
CS2 is still the most-played game on Steam at any given time and likely will remain that way for a long time.
Thoughts on CS2 as a whole? Let us know in the Insider Gaming forum.
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