CS2 is a great game, but it’s not CSGO.
In 2023, Valve gave Counter-Strike: Global Offensive a major facelift by upgrading it to Counter-Strike 2. But, what to do if you want to play CSGO after CS2 in 2024?
Years of hype, leaks, and waiting finally paid off when Valve ported CSGO to the Source 2 engine, rebranding it as CS2 in September 2023. The upgraded game dipped each map into a modern Source 2 color palette, adding a realistic flair to CSGO.
The update brought sweeping changes, from tick rate to gameplay mechanics. Yet, a dedicated playerbase still swears by the original game and wants to be able to play it.
The great news is that Valve has continued to make CSGO accessible for its dedicated player base, allowing them to revisit the classic gameplay.
How to play CSGO after CS2 release
Currently, CS2 is the primary game available on Steam, but players can still access the predecessor by following a few simple steps. Here’s how you can play CSGO after CS2 release, even if it doesn’t show in your Steam library:
- Locate Counter-Strike 2 in your Steam library.
- Right-click on Counter-Strike 2 and select “Properties” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on the “Beta” tab within the properties window.
- From the “Beta Participation” dropdown menu, choose “csgo_legacy.”
- Steam will automatically download the legacy version of CSGO. Once it’s ready, you’ll be prompted to choose between launching CS2 or CSGO from your library.
Second option
If, for some reason, you do not receive a prompt to select between either game, follow the steps mentioned below.
- Right-click CS2 in your Steam library and navigate to “Properties”
- In the general tab, you will spot a dropdown menu called “Launch Options”
- Open the dropdown menu and select CSGO.
While you would be able to launch the game, it’s worth noting that it comes with its own set of limitations. You can no longer play the game online or on any community server.
The only options available are launching games with bots or hosting a LAN party.
READ MORE: These are the best cases to open in Counter-Strike 2 in 2024
