Call to Arms Update in CS2: Detailed Overview

February 28, 2024 21:23

2024 is starting strong for the Counter-Strike community. On the sixth of February, Valve released the first huge update since the shift from CS:GO to CS2, titled “Call to Arms”. It has brought a lot of changes to the game, aiming to improve player experience. This release also proves that developers are constantly working on Counter-Strike 2, and we are likely to see more updates this year. But what exactly does “Call to Arms” have to offer? Let’s check out all the Call to Arms patch highlights!

Game Mode: Arms Race Is Here!

So, what’s new in the Call to Arms CS2 update? The most important change is undoubtedly the return of the Arms Race. In this game mode, players compete against each other and earn weapons by killing their opponents.

The final round in the mode traditionally requires the elimination of an enemy using a knife. What a way to finish a match!

Maps: New Locations and Changes

The new mode features the return of two maps designed specifically for Arms Race. And as an added bonus, Valve also fixed various location-specific bugs. Here’s a full list of CS2 map updates of the Call to Arms patch:

New Maps

Baggage

The popular map for Arms Race from CS:GO is finally back! For those new to the game, the setting is the baggage claim area of a German airport. The map is symmetrical, meaning that the teams spawn at opposite locations. Each spawn zone is located behind a wall to protect the players from direct fire in the first few seconds of the round.

At the same time, attentive gamers may notice significant changes on the renewed Baggage. For instance, there is now a room with a control board that you can use to adjust the speed of conveyor belts in the airport. Take a look at the screenshot below to find the location, and don’t forget that our Call to Arms update overview is where you heard of it first!

Location of the Room with a Control Board - Baggage

Shoots

Shoots is also back from retirement. Yet, you probably won’t recognize this map due to the significant design changes. Now, the two teams are fighting over some ancient ruins instead of a tiny Vietnamese jungle village.

We think that the renewed design has made Shoots a more pleasant place to be. There are a lot of pretty new decorations that don’t significantly affect the gameplay but still create a wonderful atmosphere.

Changes to Old Maps

Inferno

The developers have finally fixed the grenade collision issues on this map. They’ve adjusted the gaps, so now it’s easier to predict where the thrown grenade will explode. Also, texture blending has been improved, making it actually possible to see enemies for once.

Ancient

Now, it’ll be easier to predict grenade explosions on Bombsite B while playing on the Ancient map. The developers have totally fixed grenade collisions in this location (or so they say!).

Overpass

The Overpass map was known for its bugs related to unpredictable player movement. The update has fixed these quirks, so now you can enjoy playing on the map without having to keep these potential issues in mind.

Mirage

There were several persistent problems on this map, and we rejoice to see them being addressed. First, the developers have fixed the floor for the Middle Ramp and Apartments, meaning players won't be stuck in these locations anymore. Additionally, a clip brush from Apartments has been removed to improve flash lineups. The issue related to the bomb becoming unreachable has been fixed, too.

Nuke

The fans of the Nuke map will be happy to know that the visual issues at the T-spawn and disappearing mesh are no more. Besides, the update prevents the bomb from being stuck behind the barrels. Dynamic shadows on the map have also been enhanced, which is always welcome.

Italy

If you used to play often on this map, you probably noticed the bug causing players to get stuck in the Apartments. Well, this problem won’t disturb you anymore!

Office

Both bugs related to jumping and crouching have been fixed.

Anubis

The Anubis map is in the crosshairs of this update. The developers added collisions on stairs at the CT spawn and Fountain. Due to this change, weapons and a bomb no longer fall out of the map on these locations. Additionally, they fixed several visual glitches.

Vertigo

The map received some minor tweaks, like the reduced number of holes, to prevent geometry issues.

Weapons: New Kukri Knife and Zeus x27

The new update also introduces the all-new Kukri knife to the gaming community. And this addition should be cherished, as this is the first new knife skin in the game in over five years! The weapon is available as a rare special item found inside the new Kilowatt case. The knife features 12 unique finishes.

Valve has also surprised Counter-Strike fans with the first weapon skin for the Zeus x27 titled “Olympus”. Moreover, the shocker now supports name tags and stickers, and has become rechargeable. Now you only have to wait 30 seconds before you’ll be able to zap your enemies once again!

Case & Skins: New Kilowatt Case & 17 New Skins

The Kilowatt case is an important part of the Call to Arms update. For starters, this is the first case with weapon skins in the new version of the game! It includes 17 awesome brand-new designs:

The Hideout skin for dual Berettas;
The Light Box skin for MAC-10;
The Dark Sigil skin for Nova;
The Motorized skin for UMP-45;
The Slag skin for Tec-9;
The Irezumi skin for XM1014;
The Dezastre skin for SSG 08;
The Analog Input skin for Sawed-Off;
The Hybrid skin for Five-SeveN;
The Just Smile skin for MP7;
The Block-18 skin for Glock-18;
The Etch Lord skin for M4A4;
The Olympus skin for Zeus x27;
The Jawbreaker skin for USP-S;
The Black Lotus skin for M4A1-S;
The Chrome Cannon for AWP;
The Inheritance for AK-47.

The skins from the Call to Arms update in Counter-Strike 2 have already captured the hearts and minds of the community. Just look at the Block-18 design for the Glock-18! This skin is unlike anything the devs have shown us to this date.

Stickers: New Capsule and Customization Possibilities

In addition to the Kilowatt Case, the Call to Arms update in CS2 offers a new way to express yourself with the Ambush Sticker Capsule. It features 21 community-created stickers, which you can apply ANYWHERE on your favorite weapons.

You’ve heard it right, the Call to Arms CS2 update has completely changed the customization process, introducing a new flexible sticker placement system. Now you can put stickers wherever you want, as well as rotate them for a precise application.

And to top it off, each weapon now supports up to five stickers instead of only four. This feature has already caused a lot of excitement among the CS2 collectors, who are currently trying to find the fifth sticker that will fit their expensive guns perfectly.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to change the positioning of the stickers you’ve already applied. The only way to change a sticker’s placement is to remove the old one by scraping, which will destroy the sticker forever.

As for the Ambush packet itself, it is full of exciting stickers, yet the funniest and the most eye-catching ones are:

Old School. As the name suggests, this sticker attracts the attention of any old-school CS player. It features the image of an old PC monitor with a screen from Counter-Strike 1.6.

This Is Fine. A homage to the popular meme of a dog sitting calmly in a burning house, but here we have a chicken instead.

Please Return To. Are you tired of those enemies killing you and taking away your favorite AWP? Maybe you just need to apply this sticker to let them know you miss your gun.

Pushing Smokes. This glittering sticker is a perfect addition to any bright skin like Chrome Cannon.

Dystopian Gaze. This is the most expensive sticker in the capsule. You may place this cybernetic eye on a neon skin, such as Neon Revolution or Neo-Noir, or complement a minimalistic design with this sudden surge of color.

You can also check out each sticker without leaving the game. Just click on the Ambush Sticker Capsule in the in-game shop and review everything inside it.

Interface

Among other things, CS2 Call to Arms patch notes mention some interface improvements.

Players can use the Baggage and Warehouse maps as backgrounds for the main menu and item inspection.
The teams have different prefixes in the in-game chat: [T] for Terrorists and [CT] for Counter-Terrorists.

There is an XP Overload status for the players who have earned all normal XP points during the week (currently, the limit is 11,166 XP). The status will be displayed near the players’ nicknames in the main menu, scoreboard, kill-feed notifications, etc. It’ll be shown during the whole week. Besides, players can get extra tiers of this status by keeping up their experience farming after reaching the limit.
Unlike usual player skins, each agent model received a unique animation. You can express the agony of defeat or the thrill of victory, depending on the match outcome. The players can also disable these animations in settings.

Music Kit

Valve released a new Music Kit Box titled “The NIGHTMODE” as part of the huge Call to Arms update in Counter-Strike 2. It’s available in standard and StatTrak versions. The box includes six new music kits to keep you up during the dynamic matches.

Here’s what you can find inside a NIGHTMODE box:

Reason by Rad Cat;
Feel The Power by DRYDEN;
inhuman by ISOxo;
All Night by KILL SCRIPT;
Make U SWEAT! by Knock2;
Under Bright Lights by TWERL and Ekko & Sidetrack.

Remember that you can listen to the tracks in the game before you purchase the music box. Just click on the NIGHTMODE icon in the main menu to open it. After this, choose the desired kit, and you’ll hear its tracks.

Sounds

Several changes in the CS2 Call to Arms patch are related to sound effects and options. For example, Valve changed the old M249 fire sound effect, as well as the sounds of charging, unavailability, and ready state for Zeus x27.

Now, players can choose an audio input device for VOIP in the game settings. Additionally, you can now adjust the microphone threshold and meter its current loudness. One of the most useful innovations is the feature of checking your microphone by recording a short audio to find out how other players hear your voice.

And to keep up the good news, you’ll be happy to know that the issue related to player-centric sounds is gone. Before the update, some of them were perceived as originating somewhere from behind, which could easily confuse you during a match.

Gameplay: Improvements & Changes

Finally, the Counter-Strike 2 Call to Arms update has brought significant changes and improvements to the gameplay.

Now, smoke casts shadows. The developers also improved its rendering and animation so the smoke would look more realistic.
The buy menu received a new Refund All button. The feature allows players to sell everything they’ve previously bought in one click. This way, you can manage your money and weapons faster at the beginning of each round.

Players can turn off first-person traces with the r_drawtracers_firstperson 0 command. Nonetheless, it’s not recommended to change this setting if you’ve just started playing CS2, as it will be harder for you to see where your bullets are going.
If you’ve been playing CS2 for a long time, you’ve probably noticed those irritating, jittery collisions between players. Luckily, this problem is now in the past!
Consider that loadout changes became disabled during the search for ranked matches. This approach ensures they’ll be correct at the beginning of the round.
Another significant improvement has been made to the invisible walls, which can’t affect the players’ ping anymore. Gliding across surfaces now feels more realistic with reworked model interactions. In addition, the shooting mechanic also received an adjustment.
Some changes were made to reduce the advantage of a peeker. It was a serious issue, leading to situations in which players could eliminate their opponents without entering their field of view. Now, the peeker’s advantage is minimized by up to 16ms.
Finally, all players can explore their network’s performance using the new cl_ticktiming console command. It’s designed specifically to help you identify any latency problems.

Summary

Now you know what’s new in the CS2 Call to Arms update. The patch turned out to be a breath of fresh air for the Counter-Strike 2 community. The return of the Arms Race mode gives us hope that the developers may add other modes from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, like the beloved Danger Zone. If they choose to go this route, it’ll bring a lot of joy to all of us.

CS2 Call to Arms features an innovative customization system that will likely increase the value of some skins and stickers on the market. Even now, you may encounter online collectors looking for additional rare stickers to place on their guns.

Of course, it’s impossible not to be pleased with the new skins and a music kit. The community has already decided on which models are their favorites, with Block-18 and Chrome Cannon emerging as clear winners. These skins have a strong chance of becoming more popular and valuable in the future, so it may be a good idea to try to get them from a Kilowatt case.

Finally, the gameplay and interface changes prove that Valve listens to CS2 fans and works to provide the best gaming experience. Although the game has suffered from an abundance of bugs after its launch, it looks like the developers do their best to fix the situation. And there is no doubt that the CS2 Call to Arms update has managed to please the community. So, we should hope that the next big update won’t lower the bar set by this amazing patch. We similarly hope that our Call to Arms detailed breakdown was informative, or at least sufficiently entertaining for you!