Valve pushed out an update for Counter-Strike 2 today, following the conclusion of the Esports World Cup tournament. The patch is small, but it does introduce one big change: it’s about the way players defend on the game’s most popular map.
NEW CS2 UPDATE – META DUST 2 CHANGES, PGL BIG TROPHIES, AND MORE!
The July 22nd CS2 patch brings a few changes to both old and new maps, as well as a few minor gameplay updates overall, but the focus of the update is by far the height adjustment for the boxes on Dust 2 leading to the A-site. CT defenders often use these boxes to boost an ally on the short catwalk for a quick mid-peek. Now, you don’t even need a boost: a single player can make the jump themselves.
While it has many uses, the jump on short is primarily used by CTs at the start of a CS2 round. Given the need for a second player, you normally wouldn’t see defenders using the boost to retake a site, but with the higher box providing a new angle of attack, retaking the bombsite changes dramatically. If you’re on the T-side, expect new early contact with CTs in the middle or a beefed up early defense on Catwalk.
It’s likely the biggest change to the map since the 2020 updates opened up the map’s skybox, allowing set utility use on the B-site, and the decision to invert the B-site doors. Response from the CS2 community so far has been mostly positive, though pro player Smooya believes the change is unnecessary, much like the mid-bench change on Mirage.
