Since 2014, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gamers have had one grievance: cheaters. Instead of upgrading the FPS recreation‘s anti-cheat software program, VAC or delivering a one-time answer, Valve has deployed a collection of annual ban waves. The paywall replace in 2021 did little to assist remedy the issue; CSGO hackers, it turned out, had been fairly loaded – a whole lot of them might merely purchase their manner again in. Now, with the Counter-Strike 2 launch date approaching, there may be hope of a brand new and extra sturdy anti-cheat answer. The CS2 trailers nevertheless appear to have doused these hopes in chilly water.
Besides a leak right here and hearsay there, nothing substantial has been revealed relating to a brand new Counter-Strike 2 anti-cheat. That stated, there may be excessive probability Counter-Strike 2 can have the identical previous VAC, so it’s not too late to decrease your expectations and keep on with third-party platforms.
Counter-Strike 2 with out a new anti-cheat means nothing
Counter-Strike 2 is meant to be game-changing, however because the restricted beta check rolls on, gamers are already reporting cheaters. It appears CSGO’s decade-old challenge has returned in Valve’s shiny new shooter.
Every multiplayer recreation has malicious actors, however hacking and dishonest in CSGO appear particularly prevalent. In 2021, Valve banned 304,655 cheaters in three months, illustrating how the dearth of an lively – or relatively, proactive – watchdog can enable the issue to swell and unfold. Valve doesn’t actively pluck out the hackers, which means they get to wreak havoc till the arrival of a brand new ban wave.
Besides tick price, the poor efficiency of VAC has been the most important catalyst in pushing gamers to third-party platforms like FACEIT. Now, Counter-Strike 2 has been launched with three main modifications relating to maps, smoke grenades, and the dreaded tick price, however with reference to anti-cheat, the one hope we have now is a few minor print on the backside of Valve’s announcement.
“The Limited Test solely evaluates a subset of Counter-Strike 2’s options in order that main points might be resolved earlier than the summer time. But there’s rather more to return. In only a few months we’ll reveal the entire particulars of Counter-Strike 2,” Valve says.
If Valve had any plans for a serious overhaul to its anti-cheat system, it most likely would have been introduced by now. It’s beginning to really feel like Counter-Strike 2 could use the identical, or at the very least a really comparable type of VAC that we’ve encountered already in CSGO. If that’s the case, it is going to be an actual disappointment for followers wanting ahead to video games on the Valve official servers.
Counter-Strike 2 is providing higher visuals, responsive smokes, and even seen legs! But, with out a new and improved anti-cheat, the shooter could change into an actual check of endurance. As a lot as we wish to take pleasure in all of the shiny new options, the reality is that nothing else actually issues when you can’t play honest. As all the time, critical gamers will flip to FACEIT and ESEA for wholesome competitors. As for matchmaking, nicely, it would simply change into a breeding floor for trolls who create humorous YouTube content material.
Will Counter-Strike 2 have any new anti-cheat options?
So far, information miners have been capable of finding clues within the CS2 restricted check spaghetti code that counsel tweaks to VAC, however nothing like an overhaul. A brand new function referred to as VAC Live may go to detect third-party software program in real-time, immediately cancelling matches if a cheater is detected, just like Riot’s Vanguard system in Valorant. That seems like one thing, however the challenge with VAC Live is that it’s nonetheless, essentially, VAC. If Live detects cheaters utilizing the identical strategies as ever, don’t count on a whole lot of cancelled matches in CS2 – the hackers will nonetheless be getting away with it.
If, nevertheless, Valve makes VAC Live extra invasive, with higher entry to gamers’ CS2 data, there’s a sliver of hope for MM beasts. While an invasive anti-cheat will elevate issues about privateness, personally I’d sacrifice just a little extra participant information if it meant ridding my recreation of cheaters. Most critical CSGO gamers gravitate in the direction of FACEIT anyway – an analogous program for official matchmaking could be welcomed with open arms.
While it’s unlikely Valve will announce any extra main modifications, it by no means hurts to stay optimistic and preserve these fingers crossed for an anti-cheat improve. In the meantime, get ready with all of the Counter-Strike 2 maps confirmed to this point, a few of that are being completely rebuilt utilizing Source 2.
