Since 2014, Counter-Strike: World Offensive gamers have had one grievance: cheaters. As an alternative of upgrading the FPS sport‘s anti-cheat software program, VAC or delivering a one-time answer, Valve has deployed a collection of annual ban waves. The paywall replace in 2021 did little to assist clear up the issue; CSGO hackers, it turned out, have been fairly loaded – plenty of them might merely purchase their method again in. Now, with the Counter-Strike 2 launch date approaching, there’s hope of a brand new and extra sturdy anti-cheat answer. The CS2 trailers nevertheless appear to have doused these hopes in chilly water.
Apart from a leak right here and hearsay there, nothing substantial has been revealed relating to a brand new Counter-Strike 2 anti-cheat. That stated, there’s excessive likelihood Counter-Strike 2 could have the identical previous VAC, so it’s not too late to decrease your expectations and persist with third-party platforms.
Counter-Strike 2 and not using a new anti-cheat means nothing
Counter-Strike 2 is meant to be game-changing, however because the restricted beta check rolls on, gamers are already reporting cheaters. It appears CSGO’s decade-old difficulty has returned in Valve’s shiny new shooter.
Each multiplayer sport has malicious actors, however hacking and dishonest in CSGO appear particularly prevalent. In 2021, Valve banned 304,655 cheaters in three months, illustrating how the shortage of an energetic – or reasonably, proactive – watchdog can permit the issue to swell and unfold. Valve doesn’t actively pluck out the hackers, which means they get to wreak havoc till the arrival of a brand new ban wave.
Apart from tick price, the poor efficiency of VAC has been the largest catalyst in pushing gamers to third-party platforms like FACEIT. Now, Counter-Strike 2 has been launched with three main modifications relating to maps, smoke grenades, and the dreaded tick price, however almost about anti-cheat, the one hope we have now is a few minor print on the backside of Valve’s announcement.
“The Restricted Check solely evaluates a subset of Counter-Strike 2’s options in order that main points could be resolved earlier than the summer time. However there’s rather more to come back. In just some months we’ll reveal the entire particulars of Counter-Strike 2,” Valve says.
If Valve had any plans for a significant overhaul to its anti-cheat system, it most likely would have been introduced by now. It’s beginning to really feel like Counter-Strike 2 might use the identical, or at the least a really related type of VAC that we’ve encountered already in CSGO. If that’s the case, it is going to be an actual disappointment for followers trying ahead to video games on the Valve official servers.
Counter-Strike 2 is providing higher visuals, responsive smokes, and even seen legs! However, and not using a new and improved anti-cheat, the shooter might turn into an actual check of persistence. As a lot as we need to get pleasure from all of the shiny new options, the reality is that nothing else actually issues in case you can’t play truthful. As all the time, critical gamers will flip to FACEIT and ESEA for wholesome competitors. As for matchmaking, nicely, it would simply turn into a breeding floor for trolls who create humorous YouTube content material.
Will Counter-Strike 2 have any new anti-cheat options?
Thus far, information miners have been capable of finding clues within the CS2 restricted check spaghetti code that recommend tweaks to VAC, however nothing like an overhaul. A brand new characteristic known as VAC Stay may fit to detect third-party software program in real-time, immediately cancelling matches if a cheater is detected, just like Riot’s Vanguard system in Valorant. That appears like one thing, however the difficulty with VAC Stay is that it’s nonetheless, essentially, VAC. If Stay detects cheaters utilizing the identical strategies as ever, don’t count on plenty of cancelled matches in CS2 – the hackers will nonetheless be getting away with it.
If, nevertheless, Valve makes VAC Stay extra invasive, with higher entry to gamers’ CS2 data, there’s a sliver of hope for MM beasts. Whereas an invasive anti-cheat will increase considerations about privateness, personally I’d sacrifice slightly extra participant information if it meant ridding my sport of cheaters. Most critical CSGO gamers gravitate in the direction of FACEIT anyway – an identical program for official matchmaking can be welcomed with open arms.
Whereas it’s unlikely Valve will announce any extra main modifications, it by no means hurts to stay optimistic and hold these fingers crossed for an anti-cheat improve. Within the meantime, get ready with all of the Counter-Strike 2 maps confirmed up to now, a few of that are being completely rebuilt utilizing Supply 2.
