Counter-Strike 2 has received a major update, bringing back the popular Arms Race mode along with a host of new features and improvements. The update, released by Valve, introduces the chaotic Arms Race mode, urging players to ‘grab your guns and brace yourself for a chaotic race to the top.’ Players must work their way up to the knife stage and earn the final kill to secure the win.

The return of Arms Race also brings two reworked maps from CS:GO, namely ‘Baggage’ and ‘Shoots’, for players to navigate and engage in intense battles. ‘Baggage’, set in an airport bagging handling facility, even includes player-operated controls for the conveyer belts in the level.

Valve has also made several gameplay and cosmetic tweaks, including the ability for players to freely place stickers on their weapons, providing more creative freedom. Additionally, the update introduces the Kilowatt Case, featuring 17 community-designed weapon finishes and the rare Kukri Knife with original finishes as a special item. Other additions include a new music kit and an ‘XP overload’ cosmetic feature.

On the gameplay front, Valve has added a setting to disable first person bullet tracers, reduced peeker’s advantage in many cases, and ensured that smoke now casts shadows. Furthermore, player pings are no longer blocked by invisible geometry.

The update comes on the heels of reports that Valve made over $1 billion from loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2 last year, with players spending $980 million on keys for cases. The game, which is free-to-play, continues to attract a dedicated player base and remains a significant revenue generator for Valve.