Counter-Strike 2

vAuto-updating (Steam)Free

Valve's free tactical shooter, and the most-played game on Steam. By Valve

Windows
Linux

Official sourceNo bundles

By the ToolsBharat teamLink checked 30 Oct 2026How we check

Quick answer

Counter-Strike 2 is free software for Windows and Linux from Valve. Valve's free tactical shooter, and the most-played game on Steam. Download it only from store.steampowered.com. The latest version we track is Auto-updating (Steam). ToolsBharat links straight to the publisher's own download page, with no bundled offers.

Latest version:: Auto-updating (Steam)
Publisher:: Valve
Official site:: counter-strike.net
Licence:: Free — Proprietary — free-to-play; optional Prime upgrade and cosmetics
Requirements:: Windows 10; Linux (via Steam)

Our verdict

Counter-Strike 2 is Valve's 5v5 tactical shooter, and it regularly tops Steam's most-played chart. It is free on Steam, with optional paid upgrades and cosmetics. Valve distributes CS2 only through Steam, so 'CS2 without Steam' or 'no-Steam' downloads are unofficial builds that can carry malware.

Key features

Competitive 5v5 and Premier ranked modes
Community servers and workshop maps
Windows and Linux clients

Pros

Pro: Free on Steam
Pro: Huge player base

Cons

Con: 85 GB install
Con: Cosmetic and case purchases

What's new in Auto-updating (Steam)

See what changed in Auto-updating (Steam) in the official release notes

Version history

Version Auto-updating (Steam)Latest
date not stated
SHA-256
The developer does not publish one
Source
Release notes

Official downloads by platform

For Windows, use the Download button. Other platforms go straight to the publisher's own page or official store.

Linux — official downloadstore.steampowered.com(opens store.steampowered.com in a new tab)

Requirements

OS: Windows 10; Linux (via Steam)
Architecture: x64
Disk: 85 GB
Also needs: Minimum per Steam listing: 4 hardware CPU threads (Intel Core i5 750 or higher), 8 GB RAM, 1 GB DirectX 11 GPU with Shader Model 5.0.

Licence

Type: Free
Licence: Proprietary — free-to-play; optional Prime upgrade and cosmetics
Publisher: counter-strike.net

Where these facts come from

Checked 30 Oct 2026

FAQ

Can I download CS2 without Steam?

No. Valve distributes Counter-Strike 2 only through Steam. 'No-Steam' versions are unofficial and can carry malware. Install Steam, then add CS2 for free.

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