Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) officially launched on September 27, 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) as Valve's premier competitive shooter. The game was released as a free upgrade for all existing CS:GO players.

Before the full release, CS2 went through a limited test phase that began on March 22, 2023, where selected players received access to test the game's features and provide feedback. This testing period, known as Limited Test, helped Valve refine the game before its global launch.

The journey to CS2's release actually started months before its announcement. Valve had been quietly working on the game using their new Source 2 engine, which represents the biggest technical leap in Counter-Strike's history. The upgrade brings significant improvements to graphics, sound, and server performance.

Here are the key dates in CS2's release timeline:

March 22, 2023: Limited Test begins
Summer 2023: Extended testing phase
September 27, 2023: Global release

When CS2 launched, it immediately replaced CS:GO on Steam, making it impossible to play the older version (except for some community servers). All eligible players automatically received the upgrade, and their existing CS:GO inventories transferred to CS2.

The game remains free-to-play, continuing CS:GO's business model. Players who had Prime Status in CS:GO automatically received Prime Status in CS2, maintaining their access to competitive matchmaking and other features.

It's worth noting that while September 27, 2023, marks the official release date, Valve continues to update and refine CS2 based on community feedback and gameplay data, following their long-standing practice of post-release support and development.

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