The latest Counter-Strike 2 update brings revised animations, improved sounds and extensive changes to Inferno, Overpass and Train.
Valve has rolled out one of the most sweeping Counter-Strike 2 updates yet, featuring a full overhaul of first-person animations and significant tweaks to three staple maps: Inferno, Overpass, and Train. The update touches nearly every aspect of the game’s visual feel and tactical play, showing Valve’s continued commitment to refining CS2.
A Complete Overhaul for First-Person Animations
The headline feature is the complete revamp of all first-person animations as part of the game’s transition to the upgraded AnimGraph2 system. Every deploy, firing, reload, and inspect animation has been replaced or revamped to take advantage of the improved animation framework. The changes aim to make weapon handling feel more fluid and responsive, and players have already noted that the new inspect animations in particular stand out for their added polish and detail.
In addition to weapon animations, Valve hasn’t forgotten about the game’s beloved chickens – these creatures now strut and scatter with updated animations of their own, bringing a touch of charm to maps that feature them.
Gameplay and Audio Refinements
Alongside the animation upgrades, Valve has introduced a handful of gameplay tweaks. The most notable is improved damage prediction when shooting on the move, which should tighten up gunfights for players who rely on mobility. Shotgun mechanics have also been adjusted so that interrupted reloads won’t automatically resume, offering players more precise control during tense moments.
On the audio front, individual voice volume adjustments are finally working properly, and weapon reload and draw sounds have been updated to match the new animation system. Players who enjoy surfing will notice a new layer of immersion too – speed-sensitive sounds now play while surfing, adding extra feedback that can be customized with new console commands. Community map makers also get a boost with various improvements to ambient sounds.
A small but appreciated change comes for players who run the game in fullscreen mode: the Community Server Browser now opens in the Steam Overlay, providing a smoother experience when browsing for community servers.
Changes to Inferno, Overpass and Train
The update’s biggest impact on gameplay comes through the extensive map changes, which affect three fan-favorite competitive maps: Inferno, Overpass, and Train.
The B-Site on Inferno is arguably the star of this update. The church area has been opened up – new windows above Coffins now provide CTs with fresh angles to defend or retake B site. The Church garden pathway has been tweaked too, narrowing near the entrance but widening near Coffins to adjust player movement. On A site, the balcony railing has finally been repaired and now stretches across the entire balcony, offering more cover and smoother fights. Valve has also made small but meaningful changes across Mid, Arch, and Banana, with prop adjustments and improved player legibility.
Overpass has received a series of targeted tweaks aimed at rebalancing angles and cover points. Breakable glass has been added to the B doors, the Heaven railing has been adjusted for better sight lines, and changes to the truck on A site block some previously strong lines of sight. Other changes include raising the wall behind the dumpster by A stairs, re-enabling wires around the map, and visual cleanups like removing patches of grass and flattening broken wall tops.
With this update, Train gets more coverage, especially for the CT side: New crates have been added to the A spot near the orange train, as well as outside of Z and in the Upper B Halls, to give defenders more tactical options. Coverage in Ivy has also been adjusted to create new opportunities to play and hold angles. The CT heel on the B spot has been raised, and improvements to lighting and collision across the map have reduced disruptive situations.
Finally, Dogtown, a popular community wingman map, was updated to the latest version from the workshop
Altogether, this update represents a clear step forward for Counter-Strike 2, despite some bugs to be fixed. By pairing major visual upgrades with thoughtful map reworks and mechanical polish, Valve is showing that CS2 remains a living, evolving project. Players diving in today will notice fresh nuances in how their favorite weapons feel, how maps play, and how movement and sounds tie it all together.