Counter-Strike 2’s New Tick Rate Changes Explained

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is set to release in Summer 2023 and one of the changes that many players may have missed is how server tick rate will work in the new game. While the game does not feature higher tick rate servers, there are changes to how Counter-Strike 2’s server processes data. Here is a quick rundown of everything you need to know about the new tick rate changes in CS2.

What is tick rate?

In simple terms, the tick rate of a server determines how often information is updated on a server. The official server tick rate for Counter-Strike 2 is 64 Hz while unofficial servers could have 128 Hz tick rate. 

Plenty of third-party Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) servers have higher tick rates than official servers, which helps the game feel more responsive. Players were hoping for a tick rate increase on the official servers but it is not something Valve has implemented yet.

How tick rate is different in Counter-Strike 2

A new change to Counter-Strike 2 has been made that makes the game remember your actions regardless of the server tick rate. This will allow for more consistent actions and bullet registration. 

The game will respond immediately to your commands and even if Counter-Strike 2 does not bump up the server tick rate to 128 Hz or higher with the release of Counter-Strike 2, you should have a better experience. 

It can be very difficult to notice the changes if you have a PC with minimal input lag and have low latency when connecting to Counter-Strike 2 servers. However, veteran FPS players should be able to tell the difference between CS:GO and CS2’s hit registration on official servers almost immediately. It will also bridge the gap between Valve’s official servers and third-party platforms like FaceIt.

If you want to try the game on any of the compatible platforms, you can check out our guide on how to play Counter-Strike 2’s Limited Beta Test. You can also check out our guide that discusses Counter-Strike 2’s console release.