What is CS2 Animgraph 2?

Animgraph 2 is an updated animation infrastructure for Counter-Strike 2. It reduces CPU and networking costs while re-authoring all third-person animations for a smoother experience.

How do I download the CS2 Animgraph 2 beta?

Go to the Betas tab in the Counter-Strike 2 Properties window on Steam and select the animgraph_2_beta build to download the beta files.

Can I play online in the CS2 Animgraph 2 beta?

No, Valve matchmaking is not available in the beta build. You must opt out of the beta to play on official servers.

Does the CS2 update affect grenade lineups?

Yes, because the player height logic on ramps has been refactored, some grenade lineups on sloped surfaces may have changed.

Is Danger Zone coming back to CS2?

A new Cash Stack 3D model was found in the update files, which might hint at a new game mode or the return of Danger Zone, although nothing has been officially confirmed yet.

Counter-Strike 2 Animation System Rebuilt: Animgraph 2 Beta Now Live

CS2’s Animation Infrastructure Is Changing Completely

Valve has announced that it’s moving the Counter-Strike 2 animation system to a new infrastructure called Animgraph 2. This update is now live in beta, and Valve is seeking feedback from players.

Animgraph 2 aims to significantly reduce CPU and networking costs associated with animations. Along with the technical overhaul, all third-person animations have been re-authored from scratch. Valve notes that many animations have been adjusted based on player feedback.

The changes don’t stop there. Air-crouching transitions have been smoothed in both first and third-person views. The logic for player height on ramps has also been refactored; player height is now consistent, regardless of approach direction. As a side effect, grenade lineups on sloped surfaces may have changed.

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Engine and Gameplay Changes

The update extends beyond just animations. The Source 2 engine code has been updated to the latest version. On the gameplay side, there’s a noteworthy change: player occlusion now uses GPU queries. This prevents players from clipping through thin walls when no part of their bounding volume is visible.

For CS Script, a new GetRoundRemainingTime function has been added.

Audio Improvements

Extensive fixes and improvements have been made to the audio:

Jump landing sounds have been accentuated to be more distinct during combat.
A new C4 equip sound has been added.
Ambient sound levels have been adjusted.
Missing ambient sounds on team selection and end-of-match screens have been fixed.
Missing sounds in the main menu UI have been resolved.
Sound mixing while taking damage has been improved.
A bug where the DeathCam music cue caused volume ducking for too long has been fixed.
Vertical occlusion in Nuke and Vertigo is now more gradual at the edges of transition points.
Various audio adjustments have been made to Baggage, Shoots, Ancient, Nuke, and Vertigo.

New 3D Model in Files: Cash Stack

A new 3D model was discovered in the game files: Cash Stack. This finding could point to a potential new game mode or the return of Danger Zone. While there’s no official word yet, the community is already buzzing with speculation.

How to Join the Beta

Players who want to try the Animgraph 2 beta can follow these steps:

Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and open the Properties window from the Manage menu.
Select the Betas tab.
Select the animgraph_2_beta build from the dropdown.
Launch Counter-Strike 2.

Note: You cannot connect to Valve servers while using the beta build. To return to the public version, simply select “None” in the Betas tab.

To report bugs or provide feedback, you can email [email protected] with the subject “AG2 Beta”.