Valve recently made a big decision regarding Counter-Strike 2, focusing its efforts on 64-bit Windows and Linux platforms, leaving behind older hardware and Mac systems.
Counter-Strike 2 is longer supported on old hardware and Mac systems
In an announcement on Steam (dated October 12), Valve stated they’ll no longer support the Counter-Strike 2 on DirectX 9 and 32-bit systems, as well as macOS. They highlighted their dedication to advancing Counter-Strike, calling it a major milestone in CS history. This led them to stop supporting outdated hardware and systems, which make up less than 1% of active Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players.
Valve has additionally revealed that Counter-Strike 2 will only be available for 64-bit Windows and Linux users. Players facing issues with their current hardware can access a legacy version of CS:GO. It’s a stable build that keeps all features except for official matchmaking.
However, support for this version of Counter-Strike 2 will end on January 1, 2024. After this date, it will still be accessible, but certain features like inventory access, which rely on compatibility with the Game Coordinator, may experience problems.
Valve is offering refunds to eligible customers who bought the game’s Prime Status upgrade due to these changes, and this offer is open until December 1, 2023.
After the release of Counter-Strike 2 last month, all CS:GO users, including those on Mac, were hit with a substantial 26GB update. Unfortunately, after installation, macOS users found that the update made both the original game and the update unplayable due to the lack of support and no rollback option.
While Valve’s refund offer for Mac users is a positive step, the news that a macOS version of Counter-Strike 2 is not in active development will likely disappoint many players.
Counter-Strike 2, introduced at the end of September, acts as a successor to CS:GO. Players can transfer their inventory from the older version. Initially available to select CS:GO players in a restricted technical test in March, this free-to-play title has now been officially released.
Even though CS:GO first came out in 2012, it’s still one of the most popular FPS games today, with tens of millions of players logging in each month. So, even if less than 1% of the user base is on Mac, this still amounts to a significant number of players, possibly reaching into the hundreds of thousands.
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