How To Download CS2
What Is Counter-Strike 2?
Counter-Strike 2, also known as “CS2” for short, is a free-to-play tactical first-person shooter game developed by Valve Corporation. It is one of the most-played video games on the Steam platform, averaging millions of daily players, due to Counter-Strike allowing players to play even with a a low spec PC.
Counter-Strike 2 is the latest edition of the Counter-Strike franchise, a long-standing title that was released two decades ago. CS2 is the successor of Counter-Strike Global Offensive, which was released on September 27, 2023.
The game became prevalent thanks to its fast-paced and action-packed gameplay, where players are placed in a five-versus-five scenario that forces them to find ways to work together and win matches.
Before we discuss how to download the game, let’s make three important things about Counter-Strike clear:
- CS2 is only available on PC or Linux, meaning you cannot play it on consoles such as the PlayStation or Xbox.
- CS2 can only be played on the Steam platform, meaning you will have to make a Steam account and download the client.
- CS2 is entirely free to download, as Valve removed the $14.99 price tag in 2018. However, there are in-game purchases available.
How To Download Counter-Strike 2
In this section of the article, we’ll answer the common question of “how do I install CS2?” with a comprehensive step by step guide.
Step 1: Create A Steam Account
As briefly highlighted earlier, Counter-Strike 2 can only be played on the Steam platform. So, the first step is to become a member of the Steam Community by creating an account.
You can head over to the official Steam website and go to its sign-up page by clicking on this link.
Next, you must input a valid email address and reveal your country of residence. After filling these in and performing a Captcha, you must verify that you are over 13 years of age to continue.
After creating a username and password, you must confirm your email address, so make sure to check your inbox. Once the sign-up process is complete, you’re good to move on to the next step!
Step 2: Download The Steam Client
You probably created a Steam account through the official Steam website, but you will still need to download the Steam client to download Counter-Strike, which is what we’ll do next.
Again, go to the official Steam website and install the Steam client using this link. Once you’ve opened the website properly, click on the blue “Install Steam” button to get started.
A file named “SteamSetup.exe” should be downloaded on your browser. Launch the file and proceed with the Steam Setup wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions, ensuring you choose the correct language. After you have installed the client correctly, we can go to the third step.
Step 3: Search For Counter-Strike 2 On The Steam Store
Next, we’re going to open the Steam client and log in to the account we have just made earlier. Enter your username and password, and Steam will likely send an email confirmation, so make sure to check that out.
Once you are in, open the Steam client and go to the Steam Store Page by clicking on the “Store” button on the top-left corner of the interface. You will see numerous available games on the Steam platform.
To make things easier, use the search bar provided and type in “Counter-Strike 2” and go to the game’s product page.
Step 4: Download Counter-Strike 2
Now, all the dirty work is done, and we can finally begin downloading Counter-Strike 2. On the CS2 product page, click on the green “Play Game” button. Doing this will pull up Steam’s “Install” prompt.
The game will take up around 35 GB of space, but Valve recommends players to have at least 85 GB of available space. If these numbers are okay with you, click on the “Install” button to get started.
The Steam client will begin the download for Counter-Strike 2. Depending on your internet speed, the process could take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. To check on the download progress, click on the download bar at the bottom of the Steam client.
At CSGOLuck, we recommend that you install CS2 on an SSD for the best performance.
Step 5: Launch The Game
After the download is completed, Steam might perform a few installation checks before your first time launching the game, but don’t worry, as this process is automatic.
Once everything is done, you are finally ready to open Counter-Strike 2. To run the game, you can either launch it through the desktop shortcut created, or go to the Steam Library and run it from there.
In your Steam Library, look for Counter-Strike 2 and click on the game. Finally, press the green “Play” button to boot up the CS2 client.
My CS2 Download Is Corrupted
For some users, downloading CS2 isn’t the easiest process, as they might run into certain issues. One common problem hindering a smooth download is CS2 files being corrupted due to the “Missing Executable Error” bug.
In case you are experiencing the same issue, you must cancel the download and reinstall the game. Alternatively, you should also try updating the Steam client as a new update might cause issues with downloads.
Minimum Specifications To Run CS2
Compared to most titles available on the Steam platform, Counter-Strike 2 is considered to be a relatively heavy game to run. As a result, you need a decent gaming laptop or computer to have a smooth experience running CS2.
On the official CS2 product page, Valve has advised players to meet minimum specifications to have a good time playing their game.
Here are the minimum specifications for Windows and Linux devices.
Minimum specifications for Windows:
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: 4 hardware CPU threads – Intel® Core™ i5 750 or higher
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: Video card must be 1 GB or more and should be a DirectX 11-compatible with support for Shader Model 5.0
- DirectX: Version 11
- Disk Space: 85 GB available space
Minimum specifications for Linux:
- OS: Ubuntu 20.04
- Processor: 4 hardware CPU threads – Intel® Core™ i5 750 or higher
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: AMD GCN+ or NVIDIA Kepler+ with up-to-date Vulkan drivers. Support for VK_EXT_graphics_pipeline_library highly recommended.
- Sound Card: Highly Recommended
- Disk Space: 85 GB available space
Mac computers are generally not suited for gaming, so we highly recommend against using one of their devices to run Counter-Strike 2. The results will probably not look great.
What You Need To Know About Prime Status
If you were paying attention when browsing Counter-Strike 2’s store page, you might have noticed that Valve is offering players a “Prime Status Upgrade.”
Since 2018, Counter-Strike has become a free-to-play game, as Valve removed the $14.99 price tag allowing easier access to attract more players. To ensure the business is still generating revenue, Valve has shifted that $14.99 to create a paywall for the Prime Status.
Though CS2 is entirely free to download, players cannot partake in ranked matchmaking if their account does not have a Prime Status. We highly recommend purchasing it as Counter-Strike’s ranked modes are where most of the game’s value is being presented.
What To Expect In CS2
Counter-Strike 2 is the sequel to Global Offensive, which was the primary Counter-Strike game for over a decade.
In CS2, players can expect better graphics, such as realistic water and lighting. Such upgrades have boosted the aesthetics of the game, but will require players to have a stronger computer to run.
Valve’s video game titles generally aren’t too demanding for good hardware, but Counter-Strike 2 is running on the latest Source 2 engine, making it Valve’s heaviest game to date.
The release of Counter-Strike 2 also comes with several gameplay changes, such as volumetric smokes and weapon loadouts, making the game more interesting but taxing at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is CS2 Free?
Yes. In 2018, Counter-Strike became a free-to-play game. However, players must pay $14.99 to receive a Prime Status on their account, which enables them to play on CS2’s ranked matchmaking modes.
CS2 Where To Download?
Counter-Strike can only be downloaded through the Steam platform, which is also owned by Valve Corporation, the developers of the game. Do not download Counter-Strike from any shady websites, as the game will not work!
Do I Need A Strong Computer To Play CS2?
Yes. CS2 is running on the newest Source 2 engine, which is very demanding. There are numerous graphics enhancements with the release of Counter-Strike 2, so players must have a decent computer to run the game properly.
Can I Play CS2 Without Steam?
No, you cannot play Counter-Strike 2 without Steam. You must have a Steam account as the game will save your progress there, and you must have the Steam client to launch the game properly.