Counter-Strike 2 Beta

Dedicated server

This small guide will show you how to set up Counter-Strike 2 without having access to the public beta. You will be able to play matchmaking through Steam normally and other players shouldn't be able to tell the difference at all. Additionally it is possible to host a dedicated server using the client files, which likely wasn't intended by Valve. I highly recommend using a second account to play, just to be safe.

If you have any problems with the setup, I'm happy to help you. Just add me on Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/cs2helpfrend

Download

7z Repack (14 GB, ignore the outdated _goodies folder)

RAR Repack (14 GB):

ZIP Repack (16 GB):

Original ZIP (19 GB):

Update 1-4:

Update 5 (latest, as of 03.04.):

How to use

First make sure you aren't using any patched files from previous methods.

  • Download the game and all patches from one of the mirrors
  • Extract the patches on top of the game files in sequence
  • Log in to a Steam account you don't mind getting banned and start CS:GO at least once
  • Download the rebuilt cs2.exe or compile it yourself: https://github.com/mikkokko/cs2_patch
  • Replace game/bin/cs2.exe with it and run the game

To launch a dedicated server, just add the -dedicated launch parameter to cs2.exe.

Server list

Sice matchmaking doesn't work anymore, here are servers that use the latest version of the game:

How to play on Linux

  • Update 11.06.23: Add game/bin/win64/cs2.exe as a non-Steam Game and enable Steam Play (Proton) under the game's Properties -> Compatibility (I tested it with Proton-GE 8.3).
  • Install the Windows version of Steam using winetricks or Lutris
  • Disable DXVK-NVAPI for your WINE prefix
  • Increase the memory map limit by running sudo sysctl vm.max_map_count=16777216, it will reset on the next reboot. Run echo vm.max_map_count=16777216 | sudo tee /etc/sysctl.d/30-vm-map-count.conf to make the change permanent.
  • Start the Windows Steam client through Lutris, add game/bin/cs2.exe as a non-Steam game and run it (remember to use -insecure)
  • The same also works for the dedicated server
  • Credits: https://reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensive/comments/11zhmdl/comment/jdfcjpf/
Edit

Pub: 25 Mar 2023 01:18 UTC

Edit: 11 Jun 2023 21:37 UTC

Views: 720