
This is all thanks to the new Source 2 lighting, which includes a “physically based rendering system.” The oldest maps have been fully rebuilt from scratch to feature new assets and physics changes, giving a fresh aesthetic to a beloved game, by making use of the Source 2 tools. First up, you've got the classic maps - Dust 2, Inferno, Train, and more - which come with lighting and visual improvements, leading to reflections on tiles, puddles, and better shadows. In a series of videos, developer Valve addressed what distinguishes CS2 from CS:GO. The news comes after a leak from earlier this month, where a recent Nvidia driver update added support for ‘cs2.exe' and ‘csgo2.exe.' Serving as the “largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike's history,” the game includes several visual and technical upgrades, with the promise of more to come. Limited testing for CS2 is now live and will present itself to select players as a special notification on CS:GO's main menu.

Running on the Source 2 engine, which also served as a foundation for the acclaimed Half-Life: Alyx, the game will be available as a free upgrade to the existing CS:GO. Counter-Strike 2 is officially a thing, and it is slated for release this summer (American).
