The recent update to Counter-Strike 2’s limited test is causing quite a stir among the gaming community. While the map rework and smoke updates were expected, new information from reliable CS2 dataminer Aquarius revealed significant shifts in how competitive matches will be played. These changes might sound all too familiar to VALORANT fans!
Traditionally, CS:GO’s competitive matches have consisted of up to 30 rounds, following the first-to-16 “MR15” structure. However, the latest developments suggest Valve is considering shifting to an “MR12” format, where matches would comprise 24 rounds. This shift brings CS2 closer to the format seen in Counter-Strike 1.6 and is also reminiscent of Valorant’s gameplay style.
Subtle, but significant Matchmaking changes in the latest Counter-Strike 2 update:
— Aquarius (@aquaismissing) August 16, 2023
– From now on Competitive is first to 13 rounds (including Premier)
– Seems like the devs are getting rid of Short Competitive
– Premier matches will have 20s freezetimes, 1 overtime (the game… pic.twitter.com/8iP6jb4tHO
Should these adjustments hold up, Counter-Strike 2 matches will adopt a “first-to-13” scoring system, mirroring the approach that has garnered widespread acclaim in Valorant. This system, introduced during Valorant’s mid-2020 launch, has resonated well with both ranked players and esports enthusiasts, setting the stage for shorter yet thrilling matches!
But that’s not all. It seems that CS:GO’s “Short” Competitive matches, which were capped at 16 rounds with a team needing to win 9, could be on their way out. Aquarius shared the changes after the latest CS2 update, which even temporarily disabled Competitive and private matchmaking for the first time since the limited test began. Clearly, these are no minor tweaks.

Of course, this is still a testing phase, so things might change again. But it’s interesting to note that the success of Valorant’s MR12 format seems to have inspired Valve’s direction for CS2! The rounds and scoring setup modifications also imply that adjustments might be coming to the in-game economy, departing from CS:GO’s current system. We can expect Valve to officially address these changes and provide more information on the subject soon!