Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Prime Day PS5 deals
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2026
  • Deal of the Day
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • RPG Hub
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. FPS Games
  3. Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 update adds new 3v3 mode, music, and chicken eggs, but it's the last thing on fans' minds: "The game is slowly dying without a working anti-cheat"

News
By Anna Koselke
Published 23 September 2026

Valve, take notes

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Counter-Strike 2 release trailer screenshot showing an old-style white desktop PC running the Counter-Strike menu atop a wooden desk
(Image credit: Valve)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

A new Counter-Strike 2 update is here with a plethora of exciting features, from a 3v3 mode to, erm, chicken eggs – but the anti-cheat fix folks have long been hoping for isn't part of the patch, much to their dismay.

Valve unveiled its big update over on Steam earlier today, a patch aptly dubbed "Rush Hour" after the new game mode it boasts, unveiling various additions and tweaks.

First, of course, is Rush, "a new fast-paced 3v3 queued mode" for Counter-Strike 2. In it, players run a gauntlet "of randomly-selected battle arenas" and fight to capture the enemy castle to win. The arenas are different every time, ensuring that no two matches are the same.

Rush Hour has changed Premier up a bit, too, making it so that "instead of banning down to a single map, teams will vote to pick two maps each." After all four are up, one map will be randomly selected and then the match will begin.

On top of that, there are "several quality of life improvements," like blood and bullet impact visibility, and a new Music Kit: Starjunk 95. Plus, I kid you not, the update seemingly shadow-dropped chicken eggs.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:
What is this???
 from r/GlobalOffensive

Yes, a new pet system – and with it, a new gambling system – is apparently upon us, as fans share screenshots of differently-colored chicken eggs online. These weren't mentioned in Valve's official patch notes, interestingly enough, but it's amusing nonetheless (and worrying for players' wallets, sadly).

As silly as it is, however, there's another update the community would've preferred to see before chickens, Rush, and all: anti-cheat.

The top comment on Steam is literally "BETTER ANTICHEAT, PLEASE UPDATE VAC!" So, yeah. Another similar exclamation reads, "WE NEED BETTER ANTICHEAT FIRST!" The discussion isn't limited to the patch notes post, either.

Over on Twitter, one player sums up the sentiment I'm seeing all over the web perfectly: "Some really, really cool stuff in here, but the game is slowly dying without a working anti-cheat."

You may like
  • Team Fortress 2 Scout in a hat and headset smiling Valve devs "can't believe we get away" with such small updates for Team Fortress 2, ex-writer says
  • Deadlock Deadlock smashes Steam record following new update with over 228,000 concurrent players
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 extends Ricochet anti-cheat to combat more cheating in Ranked

So, what'll Valve do next? Aside from expanding its strange new pet system, which I have a feeling it undoubtedly will, perhaps the developers will address the whole anti-cheat matter – it's evidently on fans' minds.

Gabe Newell once spent months loudly throat singing in the Valve office, Counter-Strike co-creator says, and "a lot of people" were "kind of annoyed."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
TOPICS
Valve
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Anna Koselke
Anna Koselke
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Team Fortress 2 Scout in a hat and headset smiling
FPS Games Valve devs "can't believe we get away" with such small updates for Team Fortress 2, ex-writer says
 
 
Deadlock
Third Person Shooters Deadlock smashes Steam record following new update with over 228,000 concurrent players
 
 
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 extends Ricochet anti-cheat to combat more cheating in Ranked
 
 
StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void
Strategy Games StarCraft 2 patch includes the biggest change since 2015's Legacy of the Void, fans say
 
 
Key art for Call of Duty Black Ops 2 showing a character sitting in darkness with a handgun, from Edge 353
Call of Duty Activision admits Call of Duty matchmaking used to be better, gives Black Ops 7 a "classic" update
 
 
Screenshot from Arc Raiders The Frozen Trail Collector Set shows a character wearing a mask, goggles, and large hat.
Third Person Shooters Embark promises to get stricter with Arc Raiders bans as cheaters plague the extraction shooter
 
 
Latest in FPS Games
Master Chief kitted out in his signature green armor in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Halo Former Halo art director claps back at founding Xbox member for implying 343 Industries had a "laziness" problem
 
 
Overwatch 2 sombra emp animation blizzard image
FPS Games Overwatch devs know removing Sombra's Hack ability will "upset" players
 
 
Halo Infinite
Halo Halo Studios releases concept art for its version of Halo 7, teasing an "ancient, terrible creature"
 
 
Wardogs two players dressed in ghillie suits as a small helicopter approaches from behind
FPS Games Wardogs has already made over $100 million on Steam, but couldn't beat Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2
 
 
MW4 mastery camos
Call of Duty All Modern Warfare 4 mastery camos for multiplayer, Warzone, and DMZ
 
 
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Halo Veteran Halo lead has suggestions for Activision, and they include hiring "laid off folks"
 
 
Latest in News
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy 7 Revelation boss doesn't want to hear your Rebirth mini-game discourse
 
 
A close-up of a brightly blue-eyed person with winged eyeliner and gray hair sweeping over eyes
Roguelike Games Rare Clair Obscur Expedition 33 crossover sees the RPG's best characters come to Astral Ascent
 
 
Marvel Zombies
Marvel TV Shows Marvel Zombies is returning for three specials about the Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, and a Guardian of the Galaxy
 
 
Arc Raiders Frozen Trail screenshots of new player armor
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders hasn't had player counts like this in months: Steam flies past 125,000
 
 
Marvel Zodiac logo
Marvel TV Shows Marvel Zodiac show officially confirmed at New York Comic-Con: "It's a spy thriller"
 
 
Crimson Desert warrior holding and looking at an unrolled map
Open World Games Crimson Desert reviews were lower than user score due to "reviewing period" limitation, suggests CEO
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Where to find the train station tracks, a Skulker and a Bully
    1
    Arc Raiders Tracks of the Beast guide and walkthrough
  2. 2
    VisionQuest first reactions call it a "near-perfect conclusion" and a "genuine love letter to WandaVision fans"
  3. 3
    Marvel officially confirms Daredevil: Born Again will end with season 3 at New York Comic Con
  4. 4
    Arc Raiders Exploring Pendola Pass guide and walkthrough
  5. 5
    Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2 confirms Venom, and a new release date

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...