Arguably the biggest first-person shooter in the world, Counter-Strike has fans in its grips for over two decades. With Valve set to bring the sequel to CS: GO, Counter-Strike 2 is set to be the next big PvP shooter. However, since the game is not fully ready yet, Valve continues to introduce new features through the limited-testing system. In their newest update, Valve looks to shake things up with its ranking system.

In the newest limited-testing update, Valve has revamped the entire ranking system for CS2, with players getting ranks for individual maps instead of a general rank.

Valve switches things up with Counter-Strike 2

While Counter-Strike had a range of modes, the most played one was the competitive 5v5 system. The competitive mode uses an ELO rating system the same way chess does in order to rank players based on their performance across all maps. As part of the newest update, each map of CS2 will give players a map-specific rank.

To give you an example, say you have great performances on Mirage, and you get the Global Elite rank, the rank will only be for Mirage. At the same time, if your performances on Inferno are poor, you might receive a lower rank for the map. The new mode received a lot of criticism. It is a good way of switching things up, especially in terms of the maps that are played.

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At the moment, the most played maps in CS: GO are Mirage, Inferno, and Dust2. Maps such as Nuke or Vertigo are more likely to be seen in high-rank games or with semi-pro players than in regular matchmaking. Valve’s new ranking system has the potential to change that.

Benefits of Counter-Strike 2 new updates

The new update of Counter-Strike 2 will encourage players to explore maps by giving them a reward for learning each map. It can significantly improve the quality of gameplay we see. Additionally, the more the players explore different maps, the greater their ability. It allows for better preparation, especially if you have ambitions to go pro.

Even if you do not want to enter the professional scene, the individual ranking system of Counter-Strike 2 brings you benefits. It lets you see what maps you are weak at, and work on improving your skills on it. The current matchmaking system does not specify which map you generally have poor performances on unless you avail of the stats feature.

In its entirety, Valve’s change is a fascinating way of keeping things fresh on a new game. It means Counter-Strike 2 will not be just a graphical upgrade, but switch things up with the gameplay as well.

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