After the recent release of a large number of CS2 testing invitations, many players are eager to experience the game. Apart from changes in strategic elements within the maps, the comprehensive enhancement of graphics and texture effects has also caught the attention of numerous players. For example, the brand-new dynamic smoke, visually impactful grenade explosions and fire animations, more realistic lighting effects, and especially the astonishing fluidity of the overpass water surface.
However, these stunning visual effects also come with higher hardware requirements. We all know that one of the reasons the CS series games have been popular worldwide for many years, and have such a large player base, is that they never demanded high computer configurations. Even devices with average configurations below the standard of the time could still play the game. CS2 seems to lean towards providing players with an almost AAA-level visual experience, positioning itself as an online game that places higher emphasis on visual effects among similar products.
Earlier this year, Valve conducted a survey among Steam users and found that most players were still using graphics cards around the level of GTX 1060 6GB. It can be imagined that running the current CS2 display at this configuration level might indeed be somewhat challenging. For a FPS game known for its competitiveness, the consequences of screen freezing or lagging can be fatal.
Some users in the testing phase found that CS2’s frame rate dropped by about 45% compared to CS:GO under the same configuration (testing version effects, not representative of the final game). For mid-to-low-end configurations, the impact on graphics cards will be more pronounced. (The tested graphics card in the image is RTX 2060).
For a long time, including CS and various other FPS esports games, some players would sacrifice graphics quality for competitiveness, such as using low resolution settings that many professional players prefer. As for the upcoming CS2, if Valve cannot deliver top-notch optimization technology, sacrificing graphics quality for smoother gameplay might not be as readily accepted by some players, especially those who primarily play for casual entertainment.
So, how do you feel about CS2’s current graphics style? If the game’s hardware requirements indeed exceed your current setup, would you consider making upgrades for it? Share your thoughts in the comment section and let’s urge Valve to optimize the game!
