Thread by @Nors3

Source 2. Every time those words are said on CS:GO it gets everyone attention and recently community is hyped about its release. But is it worth the hype? Is a game changer? Let's find out.

The thread also contains my PERSONAL take and why you should lower your expectations.

First of all: What is Source 2? It's basically the engine upgrade of Source 1. It isn't a new completely different world for players, it's more like a modern upgrade of code and tools. Almost everything which can be achieved with Source 2, it can be done with Source 1.

CS:GO has evolved a lot since the 2011 beta until now, it's a totally different game. Many changes has been made and people could argue that it uses an unique "Source 1.5" version.

Four years ago Panorama UI was released, a key Source 2 component.

Valve works with Source 2 on every new project they've dropped in the last years like: Artifact, Dota Underlords, Half-Life: Alyx or Aperture Desk Job.

What Source 2 means for CS:GO? That's the neat part, we don't know. It all depends on Valve internal direction.

Ido: "Source 2 is a bunch of system rewrites. For CSGO, we evaluate these new systems on their individual merits. Some CSGO rework is in progress, such as the UI that utilizes parts of Source 2. Other systems might follow. Some Source 2 systems might never be right for CSGO."

That's a quote from a Ido Magal on 2017, a pretty known person on the CSGO development. Let's review the important systems of Source 2 one by one...

📍 Source 2 uses Rubikon instead of Havok for game physics. Apparently a Switch from Havok to Rubikon won't change anything important for CSGO.

All grenades use mathematical calculations, not physics engine with Rubikon only influencing ragdolls and dropped weapons.

📍 64-bit Support instead of 32-bit. Well this was done on 2016 for... Mac and Linux. They compiled CS:GO for 64 bit only for Linux and Mac, because both of the OS run 64 bit programs better. It was almost a necessary step.

They don't do it on Windows because in the end it doesn't matter, 32 bit game runs fine on 64 and changing it to 64 wouldn't give much of an advantage since neither the game nor the engine are optimized to take advantage of the 64 bit.

32bit runs good on 64bit systems, but 64bit program will not run as good on 32bit system. Remember this happened years ago so a small % of users where still running 32bit systems which couldn't run 64bit properly. That % is almost non-existent now (less than 0.1% of Steam users).

So Valve delayed and here we are now on 2022 with 32bit. Of course an upgrade for 64bit on Windows it isn't an easy click. Compatibilities and bugs will appear, and probably a beta would need to be made for it. So little reward for many problems.

📍 DirectX11 and Vulkan Support instead of DirectX9. This is an interesting part and as the same with 64bit, it happened on Linux. Basically CSGO doesn't use a "real" Vulkan API, it uses DXVK, a Vulkan based translation layer for DirectX9 (and newer versions).

We don't have Vulkan for Windows OS yet and days ago Intel discontinued its support to DirectX9, maybe Valve has no choice but upgrade it in the future. The game will be benefited a lot with the change but again, not an easy change.

📍 Modern tools: Source 2 Hammer / SDK. This is for sure the best upgrade a game like CS:GO could receive with S2. It makes things better for developers and designers to create content around the game. When people ask for CS:GO, they normally don't do it for the Hammer.

📍 Lower latency and more responsive input. ✅
📍 Improved audio and voice processing. ✅
📍 Panorama UI. ✅

These Source 2 components have been implemented on CSGO around the years.

So why people is hyped with Source 2? Valve acts in their special way. Their communication always opens up for rumours, it creates a mysthic aura around their games and development which causes false expectations.

Source 2 doesn't fix all the bugs. Source 2 doesn't mean an instant graphic upgrade. Source 2 has nothing to do with 128 tick or AntiCheat. Source 2 isn't what you see when it's talked about it with CSGO.

Source 2 rumours have been around since probably 2015, where DOTA2 received the Major upgrade and since that many comments about it has been made.

On 2017 there were heavily again major comments about the upgrade, especially after being it mentioned on the China release.

Funny thing is that Source 2 is already old, for current standards it isn't something that will change the gaming industry. It is awesome, sure, we saw with the S2 Hammer and Half-Life: Alyx. But it won't blown your mind right now.

Why Valve hasn't released Source 2 yet? CSGO code has changed a lot around the years, many different people have worked on it. A lot of times fast patches have been made for bug fixes that cause pain in the future.

This critical upgrade is difficult to be made on current CSGO, it has to be hugely tested and worked on it before releasing it. And for sure for Valve it would have been easier to release a new Counter-Strike with Source 2 instead of modifying CSGO.

Even after working on it until the end, devs can scrap it because of the problems encountered. We don't know at what stage S2 it is. I lost the hope years ago, many leaks and time has passed, but nothing happened. My mindset is to totally not expect it until it's really released.

CS:GO has been pushed to its limits on Ancient or Danger Zone so upgrades would be nice. Valve isn't a company famous for releasing crazy content or updates for special dates. They don't have strict deadlines and freedom is the nature on their workers.

"When it's ready"

We don't know where are we going, but Counter-Strike has been here since 1999 and it will continue to be here for many many more years. Thanks to @AquaIsMissing and @gabefollower for the help.

Bonus: Source 2 sticker is a curious thing, it may sound stupid but Valve doesn't tend to make this type of hints if nothing is coming. They tend to deny things with silence but this case they fired up the community. Let's see.