With Counter-Strike 2 now officially announced, Valve has published a few gameplay videos that highlight some of the major overhauls to the game over CS:GO. These include VFX improvements, better graphics, and as showcased in the announcement tweet, more dynamic smoke grenades, among other things.

You can find the three new YouTube videos below:

Aside from the graphical improvements to the game, CS2 will also make general gameplay feel smoother and more responsive thanks to an overhaul of the game’s network architecture, which makes use of sub-ticks that make gameplay precise regardless of tick rate. For those of you who have large collections and are worried about losing all your skins in CS2, don’t worry; your inventory carries over in CS2, so you’ll get to keep everything you’ve collected over the years.

Aside from the gameplay videos, Valve has also revealed that Limited Tests for CS2 will begin today. These tests will be available to players who are selected based on a number of factors, including playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and more. Eligible players will be notified in-game via the CS:GO main menu.

Here’s the full FAQ regarding the Limited Test if you’re interested:

How do I gain access to the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
Players are selected based on a number of factors deemed important by the Counter-Strike 2 development team, including (but not limited to) recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing.

How do I know if I’ve been selected for the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
If you are chosen to participate in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test you will receive a notification on the main menu of CS:GO.

If you receive an invitation select “ENROLL” and begin your download. When the download is complete launch CS:GO and select the “Limited Test” option to play the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test.

How often are players added to the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
More players will be added to the Limited Test over time. Keep checking your CS:GO main menu to see if you have received an invite.

How long will the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test last?
Counter-Strike 2 is expected to ship Summer 2023.

Please visit the Counter-Strike blog for up-to-date information on the limited test and future announcements.

What features are in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
Initially the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test will offer Deathmatch and Unranked Competitive matchmaking on Dust2.

Future limited test releases will offer other game modes, maps, and features.

I’m in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test! How do I report bugs?
If you encounter bugs during the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test please send an email to cs2team [at] valvesoftware [dot] com and title your email “CS2LT Report”.

In the body of your email please include a detailed description of the bug, reproduction steps, and any screenshots or other helpful information so the Counter-Strike 2 team may investigate.

Can I use my CS:GO inventory items in Counter-Strike 2?
Yes. All of your weapon finishes, stickers, and other CS:GO inventory items will be available to use in Counter-Strike 2. Please report any inventory item and weapon finish bugs you encounter using the previoulsy mentioned bug report process.

Can I modify my inventory items during the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
No. During the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test players cannot modify inventory items within Counter-Strike 2. This includes applying stickers, scraping stickers, using Trade Up Contracts, and other ways players can modify their in-game items.

If you would like to modify your items you will need to do so in CS:GO.

Can I still play CS:GO while the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test is happening?
Yes. Please note, you will only play with and against other players playing the same version of Counter-Strike as you.

Counter-Strike 2 players will play with and against other Counter-Strike 2 players, and CS:GO players will play with and against other CS:GO players.

Can I earn XP in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
Yes. XP in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test counts and will carry over to CS:GO.

Can I stream or make videos of the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
Yes.

Can I run or play on workshop maps in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
Not initially. Stay tuned to the CS:GO blog for information about workshop map availability.

Can I run or play on community servers during the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test?
Not initially. Stay tuned to the CS:GO blog for information about community server availability.

I was banned in CS:GO. Can I use the same Steam account to play Counter-Strike 2?
No. Accounts with VAC or game bans in CS:GO cannot play Counter-Strike 2 on VAC-secured servers.

Are competitive cooldowns shared across Counter-Strike 2 and CS:GO?
Yes. If you have a competitive cooldown in CS:GO you cannot matchmake in Counter-Strike 2 and vice versa.

Can I participate in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test on Linux or macOS?
No. The Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test is only available on Windows.

You can also find the FAQ page here.

Counter-Strike 2 launches this Summer 2023, and Valve intends to release more information on the game in the months leading up to its release. Until then, check your CS:GO menu, and hope you’ve been selected!