Valve officially announces the launch of Counter-Strike 2, saying the not-unexpected follow-up is now free-to-play with an optional Prime Status upgrade. This first-person shooter series started as a modification back in the day, and the new installment looks to continue its tactics-steeped traditions. Word is: "Built on the Source 2 engine, Counter-Strike 2 is modernized with realistic physically-based rendering, state of the art networking, and upgraded Community Workshop tools." The Counter-Strike 2 Website is updated with the news. There's a post from NVIDIA discussing hardware and software support for the game and AMD has added Counter-Strike 2 to the release notes for its recent version 23.9.3 drivers. Here's the Launch Trailer and word:

For over two decades, Counter-Strike has offered an elite competitive experience, one shaped by millions of players from across the globe. And now the next chapter in the CS story is about to begin. This is Counter-Strike 2.

A free upgrade to CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 marks the largest technical leap in Counter-Strike’s history. Built on the Source 2 engine, Counter-Strike 2 is modernized with realistic physically-based rendering, state of the art networking, and upgraded Community Workshop tools.

In addition to the classic objective-focused gameplay that Counter-Strike pioneered in 1999, Counter-Strike 2 features:

• All-new CS Ratings with the updated Premier mode
• Global and Regional leaderboards
• Upgraded and overhauled maps
• Game-changing dynamic smoke grenades
• Tick-rate-independent gameplay
• Redesigned visual effects and audio
• All items from CS:GO moving forward to CS2