When did Counter-Strike 2 release?

Counter-Strike 2 released on September 27, 2023. Valve shipped it as a free upgrade to CS:GO — anyone who owned CS:GO automatically had CS2 in their library the same day, and the old appid (730) was reused, so player counts and Steam reviews carried over directly.

There was no separate purchase, no preorder, and no review window between announcement and launch. Valve had teased the game in March 2023 with a limited test, and went straight to full release six months later.

Why was CS:GO retired?

CS:GO ran on Source Engine 1, which was over a decade old by the time CS2 shipped. CS2 moves the franchise to Source 2 — the same engine behind Dota 2 and Half-Life: Alyx — which brought volumetric smokes, sub-tick servers, improved lighting, and a foundation Valve can keep building on.

Practically, this means CS:GO no longer exists as a standalone game on Steam. Launching the old shortcut now launches CS2.