You’re probably eager to install and launch Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) if you’ve played Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). However, it’s kind of difficult to know how since not a lot of information was pushed to the general gaming public, so it’s easy to be confused about the best launch options after you install CS2. Luckily, we’ll go over the most helpful tips to download and play CS2.
How to download and launch Counter-Strike 2
If you already have CS:GO, you’re going to need to install CS2 as an update. CS2 is the replacement for CS:GO, so if you already downloaded CS:GO, just install the update and it will be in your library and ready to play. For those of you who have not downloaded CS:GO and want to install CS2, we have easy-to-follow instructions below:
-
The Steam page for CS2 can be found by searching for it on Steam.
-
Click Add to Library.
-
Open the Steam App.
-
Download CS2 to your PC.
-
Click Play Game when it is ready.
Related: How to fix CS2 not launching
Alternatively, you can just press Play Game from the Steam Page if you already have it installed. If it doesn’t load, keep in mind that any errors are likely due to servers being overloaded since CS2 has been highly anticipated and carries the player base from CS:GO.
Why is the Counter-Strike 2 install slow?
The speed of your download depends on how fast your internet is, but if you have to wait a long time for this to download, you’re likely going to have issues playing the game. My recommendation is to look into a Wi-Fi booster, extender, or repeater because your PC may be too far from your router. Otherwise, definitely spring for an internet speed upgrade because this is worth it.
Related: Wi-Fi Extender vs Booster vs Repeater?
Are there other ways to launch CS2 outside of Steam?
Steam is the best launch option, even though you will likely find CS2 on cracked sites where you can play on private servers. We never recommend these as you can get your information stolen much easier on these kinds of servers and hosting sites.
If you want to play the game on private servers, you should wait until more of those start popping up and are confirmed to be safe. CS:GO was known for its private servers where players felt safer, but since CS2 is still new, we won’t see players hosting games anytime soon.
Make sure to check out more Counter-Strike 2 guides here on PC Invasion.
