Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test: How to Download & Play

Valve is bringing one of the most prolific esports titles ever to their Source 2 engine with Counter-Strike 2.

Counter-Strike 2 will bring a complete technical overhaul to the original CS:GO, and players can try it out today with the Limited Test.

This Limited Test is essentially a beta that will allow players to try Counter-Strike 2 before its full release in Summer 2023.

However, you can only download and play the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test if you’re specially selected by Valve itself.

How to Get Access to Counter Strike 2 Test

To get access to the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test, players must be selected by Valve and receive an invite to the beta through the main menu of CS:GO.

1. The Counter-Strike 2 development team will choose players based on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to):
   • Recent playtime on Valve official servers
   • The player’s trust factor
   • Steam account’s current standing
2. Players who receive an invitation to the beta will receive a notification through the CS:GO main menu.
   • Valve has confirmed that more players will be added over time if you did not receive an invitation already.
3. Once players receive this invite, they must open it and choose “ENROLL.” This will confirm their participation in the limited test.
4. Once enrolled, players can begin to download Counter-Strike 2.

The Main Menu is the only place players can check to see if they received an invite.

Read More: Will CS:GO Skins Transfer to Counter-Strike 2?

Third-party websites claim to sell Limited Test Keys, but these are fake, and the Counter-Strike team has already addressed the situation.

Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test Features & Requirements

Here are the features and requirements players need to get familiar with during the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test:

• The Limited Test will last until it officially releases in Summer 2023.
• Unfortunately, the Counter-Strike Limited Test is only available on Windows.
  • Players using the Linux or macOS operating systems cannot run the beta.
• All of your CS:GO inventory items are available to use in Counter-Strike 2.
• Any XP you earn during the Limited Test will also transfer to CS:GO.
• Players can still play CS:GO while they have access to the beta, but you will only play against players running the same version of the game as you.

All Limited Test Maps & Modes

Players participating in the beta will have access to Deathmatch and Unranked Competitive matchmaking on the Dust2 map.

This means that they will get a first look at the upgraded maps the developers were able to create with the Source 2 tools.

Each map is now cleaner, brighter, and better, according to the Counter-Strike 2 development team.

Despite only starting with Dust2, Valve has confirmed that future limited tests will offer other game modes, maps, and features.