CS2 Receives Major Update — Official Retakes Mode and Numerous Technical Fixes

Late at night on October 23, Valve released a new update for Counter-Strike, covering several key aspects of the game. The developers focused not only on technical improvements but also on fresh content — most notably, the official addition of the Retakes mode, enhancements to gameplay, map updates, and expanded trade-up contract options. In addition, the update includes various optimizations and fixes aimed at making the client more stable and enjoyable to use.

GAMEPLAY

This update introduces several important changes aimed at improving gameplay variety and match stability.

• Added Retakes as an official game mode, supporting maps from the Defusal Group Alpha and Defusal Group Delta pools on official matchmaking servers.
• Fixed the interaction logic between Molotov cocktails and smoke grenades when multiple smokes are active simultaneously on the map.

These changes make the gameplay more balanced and enjoyable for both casual players and competitive practice sessions.

MAPS

The update also targets several popular maps, focusing on improving visibility, performance, and overall playability.

• Updated Golden, Palacio, and Rooftop to their latest versions from the Steam Community Workshop.
• Inferno
• Improved visibility in the top of Quad and under Balcony areas.
• Performed several optimizations.

These changes are designed to enhance game quality and ensure smoother client performance during matches.

CONTRACTS

The “Trade Up Contract” functionality has been expanded — it now allows players to exchange five Covert-quality items:

• 5 StatTrak™ Covert → 1 StatTrak™ knife from one of the included collections.
• 5 regular Covert → 1 regular knife or pair of gloves from one of the included collections.

These changes greatly expand opportunities for players who wish to obtain rare items without participating in the marketplace. Interestingly, right after the update, the P90 | Asiimov experienced a massive price surge — its market value increased more than tenfold, making it more expensive than many knives in the game.

OTHER

This update focuses on improving convenience and overall game stability during everyday use.

• Optimized performance in the main menu and during item inspection.
• Fixed an issue where inventory item icons were sometimes blurry or missing.
• Fixed several server sound events that triggered multiple times in a row.
• Improved overall game stability.

Overall, these adjustments make the client smoother to operate and deliver a more stable, enjoyable gaming experience.