Is Counter-Strike 2 free to play?

CS:GO is one of the most popular first-person shooters out there, and one of the few that's free to play - so it goes without saying that players are wondering if Counter-Strike 2 will be free to play too.

While CS:GO used to be a paid affair, it eventually went the way of free-to-play back in 2018 with the Danger Zone update. Now, the game is more popular than ever, with Counter-Strike 2 finally arriving in late September 2023.

Of course, this begs the question of whether CS2 is still free to play, just like CS:GO before it. After all, the gaming landscape is now full of popular free-to-play games, including Destiny 2, Fortnite, Warzone, and Overwatch 2 - itself a sequel that erased its predecessor from the digital storefront like Counter-Strike 2 has.

We've got everything you need to know about whether Counter-Strike 2 is free to play below, so make sure to continue reading for the latest details.

• Learn more about the CS2 Premier Mode, which is a new form of competitive

Is Counter-Strike 2 free to play?

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Counter-Strike 2 is confirmed to be free-to-play, with the game's official website previously stating that it "arrives this summer as a free upgrade to CS:GO."

While Global Offensive used to be a paid game, it went free-to-play years ago, and that same pricing applies to Counter-Strike 2, too.

Previously, Counter-Strike 2 was only available as a Limited Test, but only certain players were invited by Valve, and it was a rather exclusive club. At this time, it was the only way that you could play Counter-Strike 2. Thankfully, it's now available for everyone to enjoy.

• Find out if Counter-Strike 2 is coming to console

CS:GO did have a 'paid' option of sorts in the form of Prime - which gave players access to exclusive matchmaking channels that were less likely to be populated with cheaters and griefers. 

Prime continues in CS2 for anyone who purchased CS:GO when it was a premium game, or for those who want to buy the Prime status as a one-time payment.

So, that's everything you need to know about the free-to-play status of Counter-Strike 2, giving you all of the latest details from Valve surrounding the upcoming game.

For more Counter-Strike guides, stick with GGRecon. Alternatively, check out if there will be a Counter-Strike 2 battle pass and what all the Counter-Strike 2 maps are.