Can you play Counter-Strike 2 if you're banned in CS:GO?

The VAC ban hammer strikes firm for many, but those affected might be wondering if you can still play Counter-Strike 2 if you've been banned in CS:GO. As we've passed the ten year anniversary of CS:GO, there are bound to be thousands of VAC banned accounts desperate to jump back into some Dust II action.

So, if you wanting to know if you can play Counter-Strike 2 if you're banned in CS:GO, all you need to do is continue to read the rest of this guide to see all of the answers.

• Can't get your head around the new Counter-Strike 2 tick rate? Check out our guide for an explainer.

Can you play Counter-Strike 2 if you're banned in CS:GO?

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Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for some), you are unable to play Counter-Strike 2 if you have been banned in CS:GO. All VAC banned accounts will not only never receive an invite to the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test, but they will also remain banned when the migration is fully complete.

This is due to the fact that Counter-Strike 2 and CS:GO are essentially the same game but with a face-lift and a bunch of new features/improvements. Therefore, as it is the same game in all but name, you will remain banned for your original offence.

If you want to know how close you are to towing the line though, it is worth learning how to check Trust Factor in CS:GO. While a low Trust Factor doesn't necessarily mean that a VAC ban is coming your way, it is an indication that Valve think you're a lower-value player so you should aim to improve your reputation wherever possible.

• Find out if there will be a Counter-Strike 2 battle pass here.

While we would never have Oleksandr Olehovych 's1mple' Kostyliev if VAC bans were absolute, it is probably for the best that Valve keeps all of the rightful bans in place as we move to the shiny new game.

So, that's all you need to know if you were wondering if you can play Counter-Strike 2 if you're banned in CS:GO. Make sure to check out this guide to see all smoke grenade changes in Counter-Strike 2 here.