Newsroom
Patch notes, roster moves and tournament results as they land, in one running feed.
Running feed
Counter-Strike 2's Latest Patch Shakes Up Mirage and Ancient
30 September 2026
CS2 Premier rating bands: what your CS Rating number actually says about you
Counter-Strike 2 has introduced a new way to measure player performance in its Premier mode called CS Rating, which has replaced the familiar rank badges used in CS:GO.
CS2 sub-tick explained: what changed for peeker's advantage and what did not
As Counter-Strike 2 raises the game architecturally, Valve claims enhancement of sensitivity using "sub-ticks." But critics say sub-tick was sold to players as a solution for peeker's advantage—where exposed players get an edge when clicking a peek.
CS2 round economy: the loss bonus ladder, and when a half-buy is the correct call
Counter-Strike 2's economy is not a chart to memorize. It's a ladder of loss bonuses and a premium for objective wins. Forcing buys and half-buys both have their place, but they follow the breakpoints that reset the loss bonus through wins.
The jump-throw in CS2: why the bind went away and how the throw is made now
Valve has removed the old jump-throw bind in CS2, moving to a new system that makes grenade throws consistent without relying on banned scripts.
VAC, Overwatch and trust factor: how a Counter-Strike ban actually happens
Valve's automated VAC system continues to crack down on CS2 cheaters. Valve draws a hard line between automated anti-cheat bans, developer-issued game bans, and ordinary competitive penalties, while keeping trust factor deliberately opaque.
Crosshair, viewmodel and the settings that survived the move to CS2
Valve's Counter-Strike 2 has dramatically changed the game's settings, moving familiar crosshair and viewmodel controls into the in-game menu while leaving others as console variables.
Float value in CS2: why two Factory New skins look nothing alike
When you browse for a Counter-Strike 2 skin on the Steam Community Market, you might notice that two Skins rated Factory New can look completely different.
Case odds, StatTrak and the trade-up contract: the rules Valve actually publishes
The official rules for Counter-Strike 2’s case openings, StatTrak property, and trade-up contracts catch many players off guard. The biggest trap is the trade-up mechanism: output wear does not reset to a new random value.
Trade holds, cooldowns and the seven-day rule: how a Counter-Strike trade actually moves
A Steam trade of Counter-Strike 2 items can face a 15-day hold, a 7-day cooldown after cancelling, or even temporary restrictions – all dependent on an account's authenticator status and recent activity.
How a Counter-Strike Major works: Challengers, Legends, Champions
A Counter-Strike Major tournament is a four-stage competition that starts with Swiss rounds to funnel teams into a separate single-elimination playoff.
The Valve Regional Standings and how a team actually reaches a Major
Valve's Major qualification path is no longer a single tournament — it's a ranking and invitation system using the Valve Regional Standings.
Reading an HLTV stat line: what rating, KAST and ADR actually measure
HLTV’s player rating is a composite statistic that combines several performance measures. Two players can share the same rating while producing it in very different ways, creating an important margin for interpretation.
Standing reference
Active Duty map pool
Cache replaced Overpass from Premier Season 5. Source: Cache replaces Overpass in Active Duty pool — HLTV, 22.06.2026
How we cover it
- SourcesValve publications, Steam Support, HLTV and Liquipedia — in that order.
- NumbersA figure without a published source does not go on the page.
- UpdatesA rotation or a patch changes the guide, not just the news item.
- CorrectionsAnything we get wrong is corrected in place and dated.
Independent desk. Nothing here is betting advice.