Summary
Counter-Strike 2has once again broken its all-time concurrent player count record, further surpassing the numbers previously seen inCS:GO. The tactical shooterCounter-Strike 2remains one of the most popular games on PC, with the franchise’s original roots dating back almost 25 years.
When it was announced thatCounter-Strike 2would be replacingCS:GOentirely, the news was met with surprise and worry from many in the community.Counter-Strike: Global Offensivewas considered to be among thebest tactical shooters of all time, so to lose the ability to play the game entirely was understandably a concern. Its eventual release in September 2023 was met positively by critics, and while fans had their share of complaints, constantly increasing player numbers suggests the game is heading in the right direction.
According toSteamDB,Counter-Strike 2has hit a new all-time peak concurrent player count of 1,862,531. ThepreviousCounter-Strike 2player count recordwas 1,824,989, set in the middle of March 2025. It also set a similar record in mid-February, marking three consecutive months the game has continued to grow in popularity. Given the fact that the core gameplay has remained extremely similar for over two decades now, it’s very impressive thatCounter-Strikecontinues to grow, even in a field filled with more competitors than ever with the likes ofValorantandRainbow Six Siege.
Counter-Strike 2 Hits Record Concurrent Player Count of 1,862,531
WithCounter-Strike 2’s recent increase in popularity, it’s fair to wonder why this is the case. Valve recently released a major skins update for the shooter, adding a ton of new cosmetic items for players to acquire. However, this was at the very start of the month, so any growth spurred on by curiosity in this update will likely have passed by this point. It has been a while since any substantialCounter-Strike 2gameplay updates, so it’s possible that interest in the free-to-play shooter is simply increasing naturally.
The future ofCounter-Strike 2is looking very bright. Earlier this year, Valve releasedSeason 2 of Premier Mode inCounter-Strike 2, with a commitment to starting Season 3 in late June. The developer’s decision to not split the community by keepingCS:GOalive seems to have been the right one, withCounter-Strike 2going from strength to strength.
